Since retiring as a Manchester United great in 2013, the former midfielder has become joint-owner of Salford City along with former United team-mates, and dabbled in TV punditry.
The 42-year-old joined the United coaching staff when he initially retired in 2011, but has no previous experience as a head coach.
Forays into management are not always seamless transitions for ex-players; here’s five Englishmen who have failed miserably when swapping studs for suedes in the dugout.
Alan Shearer
Retired only three years, Shearer could not fight off the St James’ Park bug, returning to Newcastle in hope of saving his former club from relegation to the Championship.
Assuming the role 30 games into the season, with the Magpies sitting 18th on 29 points, Shearer said: “I don’t think anyone can safely say that we are going to be guaranteed safety.”
He was correct. The Premier League’s all-time top scorer could not translate his tricks of the trade to the squad, as they scored four goals in the last eight matches, winning only once and being relegated in 18th.
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Alan Shearer - now a BBC pundit - struggled at Newcastle
Chris Kamara
So iconic have Kamara’s media ventures been, that younger fans may be oblivious of his journeyman career across the English football leagues, in which he played for 11 different clubs.
The Yorkshireman progressed from player to manager in 1995 for Bradford City, spending three years at the helm. After securing promotion to the second tier via the play-offs, things then turned sour.
Disputes over transfer policy caused a falling out with club chairman Geoffrey Richmond, and ‘Kammy’ left with a 36% win percentage over 26 months. He joined Stoke City 16 days later, but left in similar circumstances, having won one of 14 games in charge.
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Paul Scholes has been interviewed for the Oldham job
Tony Adams
Regarded by many pundits as one of the great centre-backs of the Premier League era, Tony Adams took his first management job in 2003 with Wycombe Wanderers. After relegation with the club, he resigned in August the following season.
Adams’ next post was as Portsmouth boss in 2008, succeeding Harry Redknapp. That lasted 16 games as Pompey picked up only 10 points under his tenure.
Following a peculiar 18 months with Azerbaijan side Gabala, Adams returned to top-level management in 2017 with La Liga relegation candidates Granada. He lost seven in seven and went viral for a video capturing his bizarre coaching techniques in training.
Tony Adams in HILARIOUS training session mix
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Gary Neville
After revolutionising TV punditry with his analysis on Monday Night Football, the busy Mancunian took the plunge into management with an offer from Valencia in 2015.
Abandoning his punditry duties, but juggling part-ownership of Salford City, hotel businesses and his role as England assistant coach, Neville struggled on Spain’s east coast.
He won only three of 16 league games in charge and was sacked, with the club 14th in the league and only six points adrift from safety.
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Paul Merson failed to make an impact at Walsall
Paul Merson
Having only managed one club in his post-playing days, it’s a penchant for Welsh football which has kept luring Merson back to the changing room, apparently.
The 49-year-old this week announced he would play midweek games for fourth-tier Welsh side Caerau, having last played for Welshpool Town in 2012.
His only time in the dugout was for Walsall as player-manager from 2004 to 2006. The club was relegated to League One in 2004, and after a stabilising season in charge, Merson was sacked in 2006, with the midlands club languishing in the relegation zone.
