Introduction: Experience in the Dugout
In modern football, managerial appointments are increasingly skewed toward youthful innovation. The trend is typified by the likes of Ryan Mason, who took charge at West Bromwich Albion at just 33—an age when many of his predecessors were still on the pitch. Youth brings fresh ideas and modern methods, but in the high-pressure world of the EFL, experience can often prove to be the decisive factor.
At the other end of the spectrum, some managers seem to get better with age—seasoned campaigners who have seen it all, weathered crises, built squads from scratch, and navigated countless promotion and relegation battles. These figures bring not only tactical understanding but also emotional resilience and a deep connection with the fabric of English football.
From League Two to the Championship, this list profiles the oldest managers currently working in the EFL as of June 2025—each of them still proving that age is no barrier to impact.
Steve Bruce (64) – Blackpool, League One
At 64, Steve Bruce remains a commanding presence in the EFL, bringing a wealth of experience to Blackpool since his appointment in September 2024. A former centre-back with a trophy-laden career at Manchester United, Bruce has built his managerial legacy on tactical organisation and the ability to galvanise squads. Now leading Blackpool in League One, he has already restored composure and ambition, earning a Manager of the Month award early in his tenure.
Bruce’s managerial portfolio across the Football League is exceptional: he has secured four promotions to the Premier League, most recently guiding Birmingham City and Hull City to top-flight status. His style is pragmatic yet effective, focusing on defensive structure and physical resilience—tools he now uses to steady Blackpool’s promotion challenge. Despite his age, Bruce remains deeply engaged, mentoring up-and-coming coaches and maintaining a hands-on approach at training. His return to management after nearly two years reflects genuine passion and belief in his methods. At an age when many retire, Bruce is proving that experience, instinct, and unwavering determination still have a powerful place in modern football management.
Ian Holloway (62) – Swindon Town, League Two
Ian Holloway, now 62, exemplifies the enduring value of managerial wisdom. Appointed to Swindon Town in October 2024, Holloway brought immediate impact to a League Two side flirting with relegation. His affable personality and knack for uniting dressing rooms have breathed new life into the team, leading them to a mid-table finish and earning Manager of the Month honours early in 2025.
Holloway’s track record dates back decades: he guided Blackpool to their famous Premier League ascent in 2010 and has managed clubs across all tiers, including QPR, Crystal Palace, and Leicester. His hallmark is adaptability—engaging fans and players with a direct style and motivational flair. With Swindon, he has balanced entertainment with structure, drawing upon his accumulated managerial insight to navigate the lower leagues’ pressures.
Despite advancing age, Holloway’s energy never flags; his outspoken leadership and commitment to player development remain central to his methods. He’s a reminder that longevity in management isn’t just possible—it can be reenergising for clubs in limbo, serving as a blueprint for how age, when paired with passion, can still deliver positive change.
Nigel Clough (59) – Mansfield Town, League One
At 59, Nigel Clough continues to demonstrate why managerial experience is an invaluable asset in the EFL. A prolific striker in his playing days and son of the legendary Brian Clough, Nigel has carved a reputation for stabilising clubs and pushing them up the divisions. Since taking charge of Mansfield Town in November 2020, he guided them from the relegation zone to a respectful mid-table finish in League Two, secured a play-off spot in 2022, and achieved automatic promotion to League One in 2024. This ascent culminated in promotion to League One with a third-place finish, proving his long-term impact.
Clough’s playing background at Nottingham Forest and Liverpool lends him enormous credibility, while his pragmatic management style strikes a balance between defensive solidity and attacking efficiency. He excels in rebuilding confidence, and his Mansfield sides have been notable for their resilience and consistency. With over two decades of managerial experience—including turning Burton Albion into promotion contenders and stabilising Sheffield United—Clough proves that age and experience continue to matter deeply in the EFL mix.
Paul Cook (58) – Chesterfield, League Two
Paul Cook, aged 58, exemplifies the profound effect of veteran leadership in the lower divisions. Now in his second stint at Chesterfield since February 2022, Cook guided the club back into the EFL as National League champions in the 2023–24 season, then secured a respectable 7th-place finish in League Two in 2024–25. This achievement builds on earlier success: he delivered Chesterfield the League Two title in 2013–14, Portsmouth the same honour in 2016–17, and led Wigan Athletic to the League One title in 2017–18.
Cook brings a methodical, results-oriented approach, blending tactical structure with player development and team unity. He has a strong record of winning promotions, balancing cup campaigns with league campaigns, and reinvigorating clubs across division tiers. Known as a resilient and resourceful manager, his success with Chesterfield since returning reflects how experienced leadership can restore belief and performance. Paul Cook’s continued career success is proof that wisdom and a seasoned approach remain essential in the EFL’s competitive landscape.
Chris Wilder (57) – Sheffield United, Championship
Chris Wilder, aged 57, remains a powerful example of enduring managerial impact in the EFL. Since rejoining his hometown club Sheffield United in December 2023, Wilder has embedded resilience, community spirit, and tactical adaptability—qualities he showcased during his transformative first stint between 2016 and 2021. Now in their second campaign under his guidance, United nearly secured automatic promotion and reached the Championship play-off final in May 2025, where Wilder’s leadership under pressure was praised even in defeat.
Across his career, he has engineered four promotions: play-off winners with Oxford United in 2010, Northampton champions in 2016, and both League One (2017) and Championship runners-up (2019) with Sheffield United. His return this season has been marked by tactical renewal, academy progression, and strong team culture, recognised through multiple Manager of the Month awards.
Despite setbacks, Wilder admits to the emotional toll of near-misses but remains committed—his calm authority and long-term vision have reinvigorated Bramall Lane. At 57, he combines youthful passion with deep-rooted experience, proving that, matched with loyalty and local affinity, age is no barrier to modern managerial influence in the EFL.
Phil Parkinson (57) – Wrexham, Championship
Phil Parkinson is now 57 and has cemented his reputation as a promotion-driving manager, delivering one of the EFL’s most remarkable recent success stories. Appointed by Wrexham in July 2021, Parkinson has led the club to an unprecedented three successive promotions—from the National League to the Championship—in just three seasons: 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25. His squads have combined defensive grit with sharp recruitment, achieving record points totals in each tier and setting clean-sheet benchmarks.
Parkinson’s background includes League Two success with Bradford City and Championship promotion with Bolton Wanderers, making Wrexham his fourth club to rise under his leadership. His tactical flexibility, motivational clarity, and man-management have thrived under the spotlight, attracting record attendances, global attention via “Welcome to Wrexham,” and meaningful investment.
Now preparing for a Championship campaign, Parkinson remains grounded, emphasising discipline and squad unity ahead of the next challenge. At 57, his strategic mind, proven track record, and measured leadership illuminate the power of experience in bridging ambition with achievement, proving age and wisdom can fuel sustained excellence in the EFL.
John Doolan (56) – Accrington Stanley, League Two
John Doolan, now aged 56, took charge of Accrington Stanley in March 2024 and has quickly established himself as a stabilising and steadying influence. A former defender with a varied playing career, Doolan returned to Stanley as a first-team coach in 2017, helping guide the club to their first-ever promotion as League Two champions in 2018. Elevated to interim manager in early 2024, his impressive results—four points from his first three games—earned him a full-time contract.
Under Doolan’s management, Stanley have become well-organised and defensively disciplined, often outperforming expectations despite limited resources. His calm presence and ability to connect with players have translated into improved form; by April 2025, the team were comfortably clear of relegation. He also led them through an FA Cup tie against Liverpool at Anfield, demonstrating his tactical acumen on a big stage.
Doolan’s rise highlights how internal progression and coaching continuity can pay dividends in the EFL. At 56, he is proof that experience doesn’t only come with age—it often grows within clubs. He brings a promise of long-term stability to Accrington, illustrating how maturity, insight, and institutional knowledge remain invaluable in football management.
Mark Robins (55) – Stoke City, Championship
Mark Robins, aged 55, was appointed Stoke City manager on 1 January 2025, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract and becoming their third manager of the season. Prior to that, he spent over seven years at Coventry City, transforming them from a League Two side into a solid Championship outfit and twice reaching the play-offs. His tenure included an FA Cup semi-final run and steady league progress, earning widespread respect.
Robins’s deep experience was exactly what Stoke wanted: a coach with strategic vision, tactical flexibility, and an ability to rebuild team identity. Early in his reign, he improved performances and instilled renewed confidence in a side marooned near the relegation zone.
His hallmark is consistency—his previous teams have regularly overachieved on limited budgets, blending pragmatism with attacking intent. With Stoke, Robins’ focus remains on long-term growth, drawing from his success in stabilising and elevating clubs. His appointment, at the age of 55, demonstrates that seasoned managers continue to play a crucial role in shaping EFL clubs, marrying established methodology with renewed ambition.
Gary Bowyer (53) – Burton Albion, League One
Gary Bowyer took charge of Burton Albion in December 2024 when the team were nine points adrift at the bottom of League One. With roughly half a season to salvage their campaign, Bowyer engineered what quickly became known as a “miracle escape,” securing safety on the final day and injecting renewed confidence into a beleaguered squad.
Bowyer brings a wealth of experience, with previous managerial stints at Blackburn, Blackpool, Bradford City, Salford City, and Dundee. Notably, he led Blackpool to promotion from League Two in 2016/17 and guided Dundee to the Scottish Championship title in 2022/23. At Burton, he has already instilled a hard-working, committed ethos, boosting the team’s performance and tactical solidity.
Known for his calm, pragmatic approach, Bowyer excels in steadying the ship mid-season and guiding under-resourced clubs through turbulent periods. Despite his age, he shows no sign of slowing. His strategic recruitment, defensive organisation, and ability to inspire collective belief serve as a reminder that experienced, steady leadership remains one of the most valuable assets in the EFL.
Andy Woodman (53) – Bromley, League Two
Andy Woodman, now 53, took the reins at Bromley in March 2021 and has since spearheaded one of the most noteworthy success stories outside the EFL, earning promotion to League Two in May 2024 and an FA Trophy victory in 2022. A former Premier League goalkeeper coach, Woodman swapped the high-level coaching roles at Arsenal and Newcastle for the challenge of non-league management, bringing professional standards to the fourth tier.
Since joining Bromley, Woodman has built a team founded on clear principles: efficient football, strong defensive organisation, and a no-nonsense culture. His methods resulted in consistent league performances and allowed the club to significantly increase attendance and infrastructure standards. The step up to League Two made him one of the oldest debutant managers in the 2024/25 EFL season.
Despite limited resources, Woodman’s sharp tactical mind, developmental focus, and insistence on a professional environment earned him multiple Manager of the Month awards. His leadership demonstrates that even in his 50s, experience, standards, and ambition can still drive historic progress in lower-tier football.
