The winner of Sky One talent show Football Icon is currently the manager of National League side Gateshead following an unprecedented 14-year playing career.
In 2007, Carl Magnay signed a six-month contract with Chelsea, the reigning Premier League champions, after winning the second season of “Football Icon.” This competition provided unsigned players aged 16 to 18 the opportunity to secure a contract at Stamford Bridge.
Thousands of participants entered, but Magnay emerged as the winner from a final group of fourteen after impressing in Chelsea’s reserve team, then managed by Brendan Rodgers.
Reflecting on his time at Chelsea in an interview with The Athletic, the defender from Gateshead shared his initial experiences with his teammates.
“Some comments I received were, ‘How did he get here from a TV show?’ I understood their perspective. These players were among the best in the country, some even in Europe. I had to overcome that quickly,” he recalled.
“I talked with Brendan about it a few times, and he was fantastic. I knew I had to let my performance speak for itself, and I did that fairly quickly, earning their respect.”
Magnay shared, “Within a month, I was playing for the youth team, and by the end of the season, I had made my first start for the reserves. I eventually captained the reserves and had several loan spells. I was performing really well.”
He left Chelsea in 2011 after four and a half years, a tenure that might have been longer if not for a cruciate knee ligament injury in 2010, which he admits changed him as a player.
In the following years, he played for Grimsby Town and later captained Hartlepool United in League Two. After stints at Spennymoor Town and Gateshead, the 35-year-old decided to move into coaching.
He initially joined Gateshead’s coaching staff, but six months later, he followed his former manager Mike Williamson to League Two clubs Milton Keynes Dons and Carlisle United in July and September, respectively.
Earlier this month, after a brief time at Carlisle, Magnay was appointed manager of National League club Gateshead, marking his first managerial role. He will lead his team in their first home game against Solihull Moors on Saturday.
Chairman Neil Pinkerton expressed confidence in Magnay’s abilities, stating, “We are fully confident that Carl is the right person to continue the club’s progression, just as he has in his previous roles as a player and coach.”
