City trader Warburton finally gets himself a footy job

By now some thought that he would be managing the England National Team, others wanted him to be installed as the Performance Director of the Scottish Football Association.

Ten years ago Mark Warburton could do no wrong as he guided Charles Green’s Tribute Act to the top tier of Scottish football after the embarrassing failures of Ally McCoist, Kenny McDowall and Stuart McCall the previous season.

Warbo had it all, a former city trader who dealt in billions on a daily basis, he invented the UEFA Youth League and knew everyfing about everyfing, even more than Micky Beale as the Scottish media hung on his every word.

Alas life with the big boys proved to be too much for the former city trader, following two 5-1 batterings from Celtic he was informed that he had resigned himself, his Magic Hat headed back to London where he flopped at Nottingham Forest and QPR.

Davie Moyes gave him a gig with the bibs and cones at West Ham for a season but 18 months later no UK club has been fooled by the smooth talk from the former city trader.

Revealing his new job the USL Championship website announced:

Sporting Club Jacksonville announced on Thursday the appointment of Mark Warburton as the club’s first Sporting Director/Head of Soccer as the club prepares for its entry into the USL Super League and USL Championship.

A native of London, England, Warburton brings extensive experience at the top levels of English and Scottish soccer, having previously served as manager at current Premier League clubs Brentford FC and Nottingham Forest and legendary Scottish Premiership club Glasgow Rangers.

Warburton will lead all technical aspects of Sporting JAX’s USL professional and pre-professional soccer teams, including the women’s USL Super League and men’s USL Championship teams, along with the club’s USL W League and USL League Two teams. Additionally, he will spearhead the development of a new professional soccer academy as part of Sporting JAX Soccer Academy, bringing elite-level coaching and greater access to development opportunities for young players across Northeast Florida.

“We are delighted to welcome Mark as our first Sporting Director/Head of Soccer for Sporting JAX,” said Sporting JAX President and CEO Steve Livingstone. “His experience at the highest levels of the sport makes him uniquely qualified to help us build a top-tier soccer organization, fostering talent, professional growth and a winning culture. With Mark at the helm, we are well-positioned to establish Sporting JAX and Northeast Florida as a hub for soccer excellence.”

Warburton’s appointment brings to Jacksonville a leader with a distinguished career in global soccer. Most recently, Warburton served as an assistant coach at Premier League club West Ham United and played a pivotal role as the club claimed the 2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League by defeating Italian club Fiorentina 2-1 in the Final.

“Joining Sporting JAX at this pivotal moment is an exceptional opportunity,” said Warburton. “The club’s ambitious vision and commitment to elevating soccer in this community made the decision an easy one. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to establish world-class programs that lift up the game and expand the USL here in Northeast Florida.”

When it comes to self promotion Warbo knows his stuff but in the SPFL Premiership he lost out to Aberdeen, Hearts twice, Dundee and Inverness Caley Thistle while drawing with Hamilton, Ross County twice, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone twice.

Not the sort of record that you’d have high up on your CV.