Coaches to have managed in the Premier League and non-league

Managing in the Premier League on behalf of Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Stoke City amongst others, Mark Hughes has made the surprise decision to remain as manager of Carlisle United despite their relegation to the National League.

Hughes was tasked with a firefighting mission when he was appointed Carlisle boss in early February with the club rooted to the foot of the League Two table.

Despite a strong end to the campaign, the damage was irreversible and the Cumbrians' 20-year stay in the Football League concluded.

While many expected the former Manchester United forward to depart, Hughes has pledged his future to Carlisle with the intention of sealing an immediate return to the fourth tier.

Having spent the bulk of his managerial career in the top-flight, Hughes is not the first manager to have coached both in the Premier League and National League, and we've taken a look at the individuals who have sampled the best of both worlds.

Neil Warnock

Neil Warnock's storied managerial career has spanned 44 years with 17 different clubs and surfaced from very humble beginnings with Gainsborough Trinity in 1980.

The Sheffield-born icon also managed Burton Albion and Scarborough in non-league, with the latter winning promotion to the Football League after lifting the Conference title under Warnock's tutelage in 1987.

Warnock had spells in the Premier League with Sheffield United, QPR and Cardiff City.

Phil Brown

Serving as an assistant to Sam Allardyce, Phil Brown first ventured into management with Derby County before moving to Hull City, where he orchestrated the Tigers' surprise promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

Brown later had spells at Preston, Southend United and Swindon Town, before eventually returning to Southend in 2021 in a bid to preserve their Football League status.

The former right-back was unable to spare the Shrimpers from relegation to the National League, although he remained with the club until he was sacked two months into the subsequent season.

Brown's latest spell saw him manage Kidderminster Harriers of the National League North.

Martin O'Neill

Forced to retire due to a knee injury in 1985, Martin O'Neill began his management career with Grantham Town in 1987 before joining Wycombe Wanderers of the Conference in 1990.

In 1993, Wycombe achieved Football League status with O'Neill at the helm, which marked the start of his ascent in management.

The Northern Irishman guided Leicester into the Premier League and won the League Cup twice, resulting in him moving to Celtic in Scotland where he oversaw a phenomenally successful period.

O'Neill returned to the Premier League with Aston Villa where he restored the Midlands club amongst the upper echelons of the division before a two-year spell with Sunderland until 2013.

Chris Wilder

Chris Wilder got his first taste of management with Alfreton Town in 2001 and won four trophies in his first season before moving to Halifax Town in 2002, where he spent six years.

Tasked with leading Oxford United out of the Conference National upon being appointed in 2008, Wilder lifted the U's into the Football League in his first full season.

Wilder's success saw him head to Northampton Town and eventually his boyhood club Sheffield United, where he guided the Blades from League One to the Premier League in three seasons.

Rob Edwards

Rob Edwards progressed through the coaching ranks at Wolves and sampled a brief taste of management as interim head coach of the club in 2016.

The former centre-back cut his teeth with AFC Telford United in the National League North before returning to Wolves as U23 head coach, which later led to a position in the England setup and then a managerial gig in League Two with Forest Green Rovers.

Edwards won the League Two title with Forest Green in his first season and was appointed manager of Watford, only to fall victim of the Hornets' merciless hire and fire policy.

Watford's rivals Luton Town swooped in and Edwards orchestrated their promotion to the Premier League.

Simon Rusk

Simon Rusk was appointed interim manager for Southampton's final matches of the 2024/25 Premier League season following Ivan Juric's dismissal.

The former York City and Crawley Town midfielder spent six months as manager of Stockport County in the National League in 2021.