Many Premier League players have turned out for their local non-league sides over the years, and some have even gone on to manage in the lower levels of the English pyramid. Football writer Ninad Barbadikar finds familiar names who are currently in charge of teams in tiers five to eight.
Neal Ardley
Played for: Wimbledon
Managing: Woking (National League)
Ardley played 169 times for Wimbledon in the early years of the Premier League, including the competition's 1992/93 inaugural season in which he made 26 appearances and scored four goals. He now manages Woking, who are currently 18th in the National League and looking to maintain their status in the fifth tier of English football. On Non-League Day, Saturday 22 March, they travel to Wealdstone who are two places below them in the table.
Kelvin Davis
Played for: Wimbledon, Sunderland, Southampton
Managing: Eastleigh FC (National League)
Most famously the No 1 goalkeeper for Southampton’s back-to-back promotions leading to the Premier League, Davis made a total of 53 appearances in the top division before retiring in 2016. He was placed in temporary charge of Saints in 2018 following the departure of Mark Hughes. Since February 2024, Davis has been manager of Eastleigh, who are three points off the playoff places in the National League and chasing promotion to the Football League.
Steve Morison
Played for: Norwich City
Managing: Sutton United (National League)
A prolific striker in the lower divisions, Morison made 53 appearances in the Premier League for Norwich City, scoring 10 goals in that time. Retiring in 2019, Morison’s first coaching role came at Cardiff City in 2021.
Since January 2024, he has been the manager at Sutton United, who sit mid-table in the National League and are at home to Dagenham & Redbridge on Non-League Day.
Matthew Taylor
Played for: Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham, Burnley
Managing: Solihull Moors (National League)
In a Premier League career spanning 12 seasons and 325 appearances, Taylor produced many remarkable strikes from distance to tally 40 league goals, including six for Portsmouth during the 2005/06 season to secure their top-flight status. The former midfielder was appointed caretaker manager at Swindon Town in 2018, his first coaching role.
Since January this year, Taylor has been managing National League outfit Solihull Moors, at the fifth level of the pyramid. The Moors sit nine points outside the playoff spots and host Yeovil Town on 22 March.
Jonathan Greening
Played for: Man Utd, Middlesbrough, West Brom, Fulham
Managing: Scarborough Athletic (National League North)
A UEFA Champions League winner with Manchester United, Greening racked up 252 Premier League appearances, most notably for Middlesborough and West Bromwich Albion, captaining the latter. Retiring as a non-league player with Tadcaster in 2017, he was appointed Scarborough Athletic's head coach in 2021, leading them to promotion from the Northern Premier League in his first season.
Scarborough, who are currently 15th in the standings, visit a Southport side on Saturday who sit just below them in National League North, in the sixth tier of English football.
David Stockdale
Played for: Fulham, Ipswich Town
Managing: Farsley Celtic (National League North)
Previously a goalkeeper for Ipswich and Fulham, making 39 top-flight appearances across the two clubs, Stockdale called time on his playing career at the end of the 2023/24 season with York City. The Leeds native is now manager at Farsley Celtic, who are bottom of National League North.
Steve Watson
Played for: Newcastle, Everton, Aston Villa, West Brom
Managing: Darlington (National League North)
With 351 Premier League appearances, Watson is one of the most successful players to retire from the top flight and go into management in non-league football. Making over 100 appearances for both Newcastle United and Everton, Watson was famous for his somersault throw-ins.
The former right-back returned to his native North East in December 2023 to manage Darlington in National League North. The Quakers are currently 11th in the table, seven points short of the playoff places, and host Rushall Olympic on 22 March.
George Elokobi
Played for: Wolves
Managing: Maidstone United (National League South)
Former Premier League defender Elokobi made 58 appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers across four years. More recently, he has made a name for himself as a manager at Maidstone United where he was named caretaker boss in January 2023, before the appointment was made permanent in March that year.
In his first full season, Maidstone reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time, beating Ipswich Town 2-1 away. Now Elokobi is aiming to go further as Maidstone occupy seventh place, the final playoff spot, in National League South, in the sixth tier of English football. Elokobi's side host Hampton & Richmond Borough on 22 March.
Robbie Savage
Played for: Leicester City, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County
Managing: Macclesfield FC (Northern Premier League)
After playing alongside David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville in Man Utd's 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning side, Savage made his senior debut with Crewe Alexandra in 1994. He went on to sign for Leicester City, winning the League Cup with them in 2000, and make a total of 346 Premier League appearances for several clubs.
After retiring as a Derby player in 2011, Savage pursued a career in the media, but returned to the game in October 2000 when he was appointed director of football at Macclesfield FC. He took over the role of head coach for the Silkmen in June 2024; on Non-League Day, they go into action at home to Bamber Bridge, knowing that a win will secure promotion from the seventh tier of the pyramid.
Kevin Horlock
Played for: Swindon Town, Man City
Managing: Maldon & Tiptree (Isthmian League North)
Famous for free-kicks as a midfielder, notably for Manchester City, Horlock made 82 appearances in the Premier League. His first managerial role came in 2015, when he was appointed head coach at Chatham Town. Since February this year, Harlock has been the head coach at Maldon & Tiptree in the Isthmian League North Division, at level eight of the English football pyramid.
