More than the Score

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The average age of a manager in the Premier League in the 2025/26 season is 45. 10 years ago, it was 53. As far as modern football at the highest level is concerned, managers appear to be getting younger. But are older coaches being unfairly overlooked? Scottish giants Celtic have twice turned to 74 year-old Martin O'Neill this season while former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti  will take Brazil to the men's 2026 World Cup and is still regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time at the age of 66. Former Premier League manager, Phil Brown, tells John Bennett why players are looking at a career in management much earlier than those who played in the 90s. Brown also worked as assistant to Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers. He says 'Big Sam' still has what it takes to manage at the top of the game and should have been considered for the Tottenham Hotspur job ahead of Igor Tudor.  Mark Ogden, senior football writer at ESPN,  explains why the likes of 71 year-old Allardyce, and 77 year-old Neil Warnock - who's just returned to management with non-league Torquay United - deserve more respect and shouldn't always be overlooked for up-and-coming managers such as former Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim.  Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like skimo star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scotty James and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore