by Michael Sawh

Created on: September 02, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

A man who now personifies a nature of distinct calmness from the sidelines could not be more far withdrawn from the confrontational nature he once showed as he departed last out of the tunnel to pull on the playing jerseys for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Inter Milan. Paul Ince looked a man content with the events occurring in front of him as he made his managerial debut in the Premier League. But as a free-kick was swung into the Everton box and Andre Ooijer scrambled to fire home a last gasp winner, he struggled to hide his delight punching the air to signal his arrival in the top flight.

It was the 22nd of June when history was made and Paul Ince was installed as Blackburn Rovers manager, becoming the first black manager to coach in the top flight. Aside from the significance attached to his appointment, perhaps more pertinent is that Ince was plucked from the lower divisions of English football, something which is fast becoming a rarity by top fight clubs.

It has been seen as a bold move by the chairman to opt for Ince's experience in English football against a host of high profile managers tipped for the job, with current Getafe manager Michael Laudrup looking possibly to have snatched Ince's opportunity at the last moment. But Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams stayed faithful to his word to choose Ince and believes that these are optimistic times for the Lancashire club.

Reaching the Premier League as a manager will be some form of vindication after being rejected for the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager's job back in 2006 which appears to have made Ince even more determined to prove his managerial worth.

Unlike some of his playing colleagues who are now making their strides in management, Ince's arrival in the top flight took a rather different route. He will perhaps look towards to the likes of Gareth Southgate an ex-England colleague, who was instantly given the opportunity to work in the Premier League despite no previous experience. While Southgate got an instant taste of life managing amongst the elite of English football, Ince has had to graft in the lower leagues learning his trade patiently waiting for his opportunity at the other end of English football.

Ince was clearly not intimidated by the prospect of making his initial strides in management a lot lower than his former teammates, and it is this almost fearless nature which he showed as a player that has helped him enjoy so much success in an already blossoming managerial

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