Big surprise in Madrid as Real look to Stockport man to join staff

It’s a rarity to be using Real Madrid and Stockport County in the same sentence, but a recent move by Los Blancos has ensured the League One side will be mentioned in the same breath as the Spanish giants.

After four games of the English football season, Stockport sit proudly atop League One, unbeaten on 10 points, with three wins and a draw suggesting that they’re doing something right.

Stockport assistant to join Real Madrid

Their assistant coach, Andy Mangan, is apparently well known to Davide Ancelotti, an assistant under his father, Carlo, with the Santiago Bernabeu outfit.

It is precisely that connection which will see Mangan swap the North West of England for the rather sunnier climbs of the Spanish capital according to The Athletic (subscription required).

The reason for the move is apparently as a result of Carlo Ancelotti wanting to widen his resources within the backroom set up.

Clearly, Mangan must’ve impressed the younger Ancelotti whilst the two of them were studying for their coaching badges.

Though it might seem to be a huge surprise to the outsider, the move indicates a growing influence of young Englishmen on the game.

Pep Guardiola brought an entirely different look on the game to English shores when he took up the post at Manchester City, and that influence can now be seen right down as far as the lower reaches of the English football pyramid.

Mangan’s modern football teachings can be directly correlated to what Guardiola is doing at the elite level, and the move to Madrid will only enhance the former’s CV when looking for future work.