This got us thinking, are there any ‘Barclaysmen’ managing in the EFL today?
Scott Parker
Scott Parker, a cockney’s dream, has taken to life post-playing rather well. After a storied career as a hard-hitting midfielder, where he played for half of London, including Charlton Athletic, West Ham United, Chelsea and Fulham, Parker began coaching in 2018.
The former player had returned to Spurs to lead the clubs Under-18s but it wasn’t long before the top-level came calling as he headed to Fulham as an assistant coach.
After a caretaker stint, Parker got the full-time job in 2019. At the first time of asking, the London born lad returned Fulham back the Premier League in COVID hit 2020. As is usually the case, things hit rocky waters and Parker could not keep the team up, ultimately losing his job.
Parker was immediately employed by Bournemouth that summer, tasked with doing the same job, get the team up. The man did just that, this time avoiding the play-offs, finishing just behind former club Fulham. He’s getting pretty good at this isn’t he?
Unfortunately for Parker it was almost déjà vu. He was sacked the following year, with Bournemouth pulling all the strings to keep themselves up.
After a peculiar stint at Club Brugge in Belgium, Parker was back in the EFL tasked with doing what he does best, getting teams into the Premier League.
Parker was hired by Burnley (up north for the London native I know) to get them back quick time. As usual Parker delivered, as the team missed out on the league title on goal difference but broke multiple defensive records on the way to promotion.
Frank Lampard
Chelsea’s favourite and Harry Redknapp’s nephew, Frank Lampard is now plying his trade in EFL management.
Lampard’s first foray into management came in 2018 when he took over Derby County. In a mostly positive year, he utilised Chelsea’s loan system to build a young side that would go all the way to the play-off final (after a highly memorable semi-final against Leeds United) but ultimately could not get the side up.
The former midfielder would ultimately jump the gun on his career. Heading the calls of Chelsea, taking over the club whilst in a transfer embargo. Whist his first season was positive, he could not deliver the performances needed to hold off the club’s hierarchy from pressing their favourite sack button, thus losing his job in January 2021.
After a year out of the game, Lampard came back, trying the help Everton avoid their first ever relegation. He did so but could do no more with a lacklustre squad.
After a short stint at Chelsea, again, Lampard returned to the EFL, replacing the ever-loved Mark Robins at Coventry City.
There must be something about a play-off run that Lampard loves because this season he has turned Coventry’s team around, dragging them from the bottom end of the table, securing a play-off spot on the final day.
Can he go one better than he did at Derby?
Michael Carrick
Wallsend born and bred; Michael Carrick had the playing career most could dream of. After winning everything at club level, Carrick made the move to coaching in 2018.
Initially part of Jose Mourinho’s back-room staff, Carrick would remain at Manchester United until 2022, a stint which also included a three-game stint as caretaker. Two wins and a draw, not a bad start.
In October of 2022, Championship Middlesbrough came calling with an offer of the full-time gig. At the time, the club were just a point above the relegation zone. Carrick would win 16 of his first 23 games in charge, guiding the club to fourth placed finish. Unfortunately, the team would lose out to Coventry City in the play-off semi’s that year.
In the following season, Carrick took the club to League Cup semi-final but in the league the team would miss out on the play-offs. Despite this he was rewarded with a new three-year contract.
This season has been much of the same, with inconsistent performances, alongside multiple injuries costing Carrick and his team, as the club finished 10th.
Carrick’s position is up in the air this summer, with the club desperate to find a way back to the Premier League.
Tom Cleverley
(This was written when he still had a job so I’m counting it)
Manchester United youth prospect, Tom Cleverley, bounced around the Premier League for years, including being part of Wigan Athletics 2010/11 great escape.
Cleverley’s longest spell came at Watford, it’s here that his coaching career would also begin.
In March of 2024, Valerian Ismael was sacked, and Cleverley took up the caretaker job. In the space of seven games, the former England International began to mend club-fan relations as calls for him to get the full-time job grew.
In May, Cleverley was appointed full-time manager but faced an uphill challenge, with the club tipped for relegation with an indifferent squad and limited transfer funds.
Under Cleverley though, that wasn’t the case. In the first half of the season, he had his team fighting for a play-off place and competing with the best in the league. Unfortunately, depth and injuries would show through as the campaign progressed, but the club were never at risk of relegation, finishing 14th.
Less than a week after the season ended, Cleverley was sacked as Watford would again fail to have a permanent manager for a full calendar year for an 15th straight year.
Yeah, I’m still confused on that one.
Jack Wilshere
Arsenal graduate and scorer of *that* prime Arsene Wenger goal, Jack Wilshere joined the list this season.
After being forced into an early retirement, Wilshere went after his coaching badges, joining back up with Arsenal in 2022 as head coach of the Under-18s.
In 2024, he left his boyhood club once again to join Norwich City as a first-team coach.
Johannes Hoff Throup was sacked in April 2025 and up stepped Wilshere. In his three-game reign, he secured two wins and a draw. Reports suggest Wilshere is very likely to be offered the full-time job, something he has stated he would be delighted about.
Don’t know about you but this one makes me feel old.
Aaron Ramsey
Another player out of the 2010 Arsenal handbook, Aaron Ramsey made his first foray into management this season, albeit in an interim capacity.
Welsh footballer Ramsey returned to boyhood club Cardiff City in 2023, making the step into the big job in April 2025 following Omer Riza’s sacking.
Whilst Ramsey had no chance to stop Cardiff’s ultimate relegation, he is said to have had a good impact on the players within his short stint in charge.
The 34-year-old hasn’t made his mind up on his future but has stated he could not offer his services on the pitch alongside managing next season. With injuries adding up for Ramsey, could retirement to lead Cardiff back up be on the cards?
Kevin Nolan
The final member of this list and probably the most ‘Barclaysmen’ on here.
Kevin Nolan, the chicken man himself, box-to-box extraordinaire for Newcastle United and Big Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United, has returned to EFL management with Northampton Town.
In 2016, Nolan joined Leyton Orient as player-manager but after failing to deliver a play-off place, the former midfielder was ousted. Within a matter of months, Nolan was employed again, this time with Notts County, as a full-time manager.
After keeping the club in League Two, Nolan signed a new three-year deal but was sacked a year later after a six-game winless run.
From this, the Bolton Youth Graduate went back the education board, joining then West Ham boss, David Moyes’s backroom staff in 2020.
After a two-month stint with England’s Under 20 set up, Nolan felt comfortable to return to the EFL, joining Northampton Town, relacing Jon Brady who had resigned.
Despite losing his first game 4-1, Nolan has managed to win seven of his first 25 games in charge, securing safety for Town and guiding them to another year in League One.
