Former Premier League hardman secures promotion to England’s sixth tier in his first season as a manager

A former Premier League veteran and TNT Sports TV pundit has won promotion to the sixth tier of English football in his first season as a manager. 

A 2-1 win against Bamber Bridge on Saturday afternoon saw the Northern Premier League side book their spot in the National League North for the 2025-26 campaign.

The ex-Manchester United midfielder has enjoyed an imperious season with Macclesfield, who sit 20 points clear at the top of the table with six league games left to play.

Initially serving as Macclesfield’s Director of Football since 2020, Robbie Savage transitioned to the role of head coach in June 2024.

His managerial appointment followed a period during which he was offered a senior role elsewhere before he accepted the position at Macclesfield. Savage took over from Michael Clegg after the Silkmen lost the play-off final in 2023-24. 

Upon joining Macclesfield, he brought former Premier League veteran Emile Heskey in as his assistant. Savage and Heskey played together at Leicester and Birmingham City. 

He joined Macclesfield as a shareholder in 2020 and became their manager simultaneously in June 2024

Savage said promotion to the National League North is the proudest moment of his career

Savage made 346 Premier League appearances across four different clubs in his 17-year career, as well as earning 39 senior caps for the Welsh national team. 

For a while, he held the dubious distinction of being awarded the most yellow cards of any player in Premier League history (89) but has since been overtaken by multiple players.

Savage, who never managed to win a league title in his career, revealed that Northern Premier League glory with Macclesfield is now his proudest moment in football.

He said: ‘I’ve been lucky enough to captain four teams in the Premier League, play nearly 350 games in the top-flight, appear in Wembley finals and win 39 caps for my country.

‘But Macclesfield being crowned champions of the Northern Premier League was my proudest moment of all.’

The ex-Leicester midfielder then went on to relish proving his ‘haters’ wrong, and insisted that negativity only fuelled his fire.

Savage added: ‘For all the haters, doubters and keyboard warriors, they have fuelled my fire and that of my players.

‘I have answered every single person who spoke negatively about us. I have proved people wrong all my life. I am a fighter as you have to be after being released by the biggest club in the world [Manchester United] as a youngster.’

Savage added Premier League veteran Emile Heskey to his coaching staff last summer

Savage (bottom row, second right) played 346 Premier League games in his 17-year career, picking up 89 yellow cards

Savage (top row, third right) was part of Manchester United’s academy but never managed to play a game for them

At the beginning of the season, Savage admitted that his debut managerial term was a make-or-break one, and that he expected to get the boot if he did not lead Macclesfield to promotion.

But, with plenty time left until the summer, the former Premier League hardman can rest easy, with nothing on the line until the next season begins.

‘If I fail, I know my time will be up,’ he told The Mirror. ‘I won’t be able to go back to being a director of football, sitting in the stands and judging other people if I’ve come up short. I know everything is on the line.

‘Some of the stuff that was said when I took on the job was unpleasant to say the least. It was a horrible summer.

‘But this team will get in the play-offs, and I believe we will go up, but if we don’t win promotion I will walk away from the dugout, take a back seat as a part-owner and watch from afar.

‘There will be people who hope I fall flat on my face, but if that happens it won’t be for a lack of effort.’

Macclesfield will next be on the grass on March 29 at Blyth Spartans before they return home on April 5 to face Workington.