Former Leeds United player Lee Bowyer has told talkSPORT that he is keen on stepping into football management, and has targeted the vacancy at Sky Bet League One side Charlton Athletic. The 39-year-old began his professional career at The Valley, making over 40 appearances for the Addicks.
The one-time energetic midfielder ended his playing career over four years ago, following a spell at Ipswich Town in 2012. He enjoyed a productive career, winning the League Cup in 2011 with Birmingham City and also earning one cap for the England national team, after appearing in a friendly clash against Portugal in September 2002.
Now that Bowyer has successfully completed his coaching badges, he believes now is the time to make his name in the coaching sphere of professional football. Speaking to Alan Brazil on the Sports Breakfast show, he stated that he’d love to fill the vacancy left by the sacked Russell Slade,
“I would like to get back into the game. I have had three, four years out. Now I have done my badges.
“I would like to go there (Charlton Athletic). It is a lovely club.”
Bowyer believes that playing under the likes of David O’Leary, Sven Goran Eriksson and Sir Bobby Robson to name just three, he believes those experiences will stand him in good stead when it comes to taking his own place in a dugout at some point,
“I would like to be a manager. I have been very fortunate to have played under some top managers and with a lot of top players so I think I have a lot of knowledge to offer.”
Despite Bowyer’s claims, it remains somewhat unlikely that Charlton will provide him with his first job in management. Karl Robinson, the former MK Dons boss, remains the odds on favourite to take on the role. Gary Caldwell, sacked by Wigan Athletic earlier this season, is said to be another serious contender.
