Sol Campbell describes himself as ‘one of the greatest minds in football’ after missing out on Oxford job

Oxford decided to opt for Craig Bellamy instead of Campbell, and the former England defender thinks his formidable football intellect may be behind their decision

Presenting Sol Campbell, football genius (Getty)

Sol Campbell has described himself as “one of the greatest minds in football”, after narrowly missing out on the manager’s position at struggling third-tier side Oxford United.

Campbell, the former Tottenham and Arsenal defender who made 73 appearances for England, was in the frame to replace Pep Clotet, who was sacked last month after less than six months in charge of Oxford.

However the side look set to hire Craig Bellamy, who has been coaching at Cardiff City.

And Capmbell, who has no previous managerial experience, is aghast that he was snubbed by the lower league side.

“I did go (for the Oxford job) and they didn't accept me,” he said during an appearance on the Arsenal podcast Highbury & Heels.

“Maybe it was a lack of experience, things like that, but it's a full circle. Experience? How do I get experience? Well I need a job to get experience.

“I don't want to go too low that it's a struggle, and I don't want to go too low that I'm under someone and thinking "what am I doing here?" I would rather be managing a club myself.”

Sol Campbell: Not short of confidence (Getty)

Campbell also wonders whether his formidable intellect may have deterred Oxford from hiring him.

“I'm confident and it's not like it's rocket science to run a football club, especially when you get to that level,” he added.

Craig Bellamy: Set for the Oxford job (Getty)

“If you're intelligent enough and a quick learner you will learn pretty soon, within two or three games, what the team needs, training-wise, to survive in that league, get better in that league, to get in the play-offs or even win the league.

“I'm intelligent enough, it's not like I played on a fox and dog pitch all my life. I can't believe some people, I'm one of the greatest minds in football and I'm being wasted because of a lack of experience or "maybe he talks his mind too much".

“Go to Germany, they love people who speak their minds. They got the jobs. I'm sorry that I've got a mind, but don't be scared of that. That should be something you want at your club, but obviously not.”