Paul Ince Deserves Another Shot in Management – Ahead of Any Spanish Coach
By The Dale Blues Editorial Team
English football has never been short of identity. From the mud-stained pitches of grassroots to the roaring terraces of Old Trafford, Anfield, and beyond, the game here has always been built on something deeper than possession stats and tactical diagrams. Yet in recent years, too many of our clubs have lost sight of that, chasing the continental dream of the “next big thing” from Spain, while men of true leadership and pedigree, like Paul Ince, are left waiting for a call that rarely comes.
It’s time to ask the simple question: why are English clubs so quick to trust an unproven Spanish coach over one of our own? And more to the point — why has Paul Ince been overlooked for too long?
The Making of a Leader
Paul Ince is not just another former pro with a whistle. He is one of the most decorated midfielders this country has produced. His career tells a story of resilience, adaptability, and authority. From West Ham United, where he broke through as a fearless youngster, to Manchester United, where he became a driving force in Sir Alex Ferguson’s early dynasty, Ince built a reputation for never backing down.
At Inter Milan, he earned the respect of a famously tough Italian fanbase, becoming one of the rare Englishmen to succeed abroad. At Liverpool, Middlesbrough, and Wolves, he was no passenger — he was a leader. And let’s not forget his most historic role: the first black player to captain England in a full international. That wasn’t just symbolic; it was monumental. Ince carried the weight of history with courage and dignity.
These are not credentials you can learn in a coaching seminar. These are lived experiences, the kind that forge leaders.
A Manager Who Proved Himself
Ince’s managerial record deserves closer inspection. At Macclesfield Town, he pulled off a near miracle, rescuing them from certain relegation with grit and tactical nous. At Milton Keynes Dons, he delivered silverware — the League Two title and the Football League Trophy in the same season. Success in management, especially at lower-league level, is not about having millions to spend or a team of analysts. It’s about motivation, clarity, and belief. Ince had all three.
His time at Blackburn and Reading is often held against him. But let’s be honest: who has succeeded in those pressure cookers of financial chaos and boardroom instability? Ince walked into storms, not opportunities. Even then, he showed fight, never losing the dressing room, never compromising on standards.
The Spanish Obsession
Spanish coaches have their place in football history. Pep Guardiola is a genius, no doubt. Unai Emery has proven himself in Europe. Rafa Benítez earned his medals the hard way. But let’s separate the greats from the hype. For every Guardiola, there are ten coaches parachuted into England on the promise of “positional play” and “possession philosophy” who leave with nothing but excuses.
English clubs have developed a bad habit of importing ideas that don’t always fit. Too often, they value theory over authority, buzzwords over backbone. And in that blind chase, men like Paul Ince — men who actually understand the English game from the ground up — get dismissed as yesterday’s news.
It’s insulting. Not just to Ince, but to English football itself.
Why Ince, Why Now
The modern game is crying out for leaders. Dressing rooms are full of talented young players who need guidance, not jargon. They need someone who can look them in the eye and demand standards. They need someone who knows the pressures of a Saturday afternoon when the fans are restless and the stakes are high.
That’s Paul Ince. He commands respect because he’s lived the game at every level. He isn’t a theoretician with a clipboard; he’s a leader who has bled for his clubs and his country. His presence alone raises standards. His story inspires.
If Ince had been born in Barcelona or Madrid, his managerial journey would be framed differently. He would already have been given chance after chance in La Liga or the Premier League. But because he’s English — and because he speaks the blunt, no-nonsense language of truth rather than textbook jargon — he’s sidelined.
That is not just unfair; it’s a disgrace.
A Call to English Football
This isn’t about patriotism for its own sake. It’s about common sense. Why keep gambling on Spanish imports when proven English leaders are ignored? Paul Ince has the experience, the presence, and the authority to manage again — and succeed.
The next chairman looking for a spark should stop scrolling the European shortlist and look closer to home. Ince is ready, and English football is poorer without him on the touchline.
Give Paul Ince the chance he deserves. Not because of sentiment, but because he has earned it.
Because in a world of borrowed philosophies, English football needs its own leaders more than ever. And Paul Ince is one of the finest we’ve got.