The winner of Football’s Next Star has landed a new job in football, 14 years after winning the show earned him a short-term contract with Italian giants Inter Milan.
Ben Greenhalgh triumphed in the sole season of the Sky show which saw 10 young footballers compete to sign with the Nerazzurri in 2010.
Greenhalgh would go on to spend 18 months on Inter’s books but never played a senior game for the club.
However, he was presented with a Champions League winners medal after being part of Jose Mourinho’s travelling squad for the 2010 final victory over Bayern Munich.
The forward then became something of a journeyman in non-league football and also spent a season with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Scotland.
Margate have announced that Ben Greenhalgh will be player/manager next season
Greenhalgh (left) joined Jose Mourinho’s (right) inter Milan after winning Football’s Next Star
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And a move to Isthmian League South East Division side Margate in 2021 has now resulted in Greenhalgh’s first foray into management.
The club announced on Wednesday that the fan-favourite would be taking the role of player-manager for the 2024/25 campaign.
A club statement said: ‘Margate FC are delighted to announce that Ben Greenhalgh will be player/manager for the 2024/25 campaign.
Greenhalgh joined Margate back in 2021 and has gone on to become a fan favourite
‘Greenhalgh has been a Blue since the 2021/22 season, where as a player, he lit the blue touch paper, scoring 24 goals and assisting 28 times, becoming an instant fan favourite around Hartsdown Park.
‘Since then, he has continued to play and give his all for Margate FC, reaching 100 appearances at the club during the 2022/23 season and surpassing the 50-goal mark, towards the end of last season.
‘Greenhalgh also has experience as part of the coaching team, as he was player/assistant manager, where he helped aid the club on an incredible Kent Senior Cup run which ended with the us lifting the trophy at Priestfield Stadium.’