Three former Premier League stars enjoying a strong start to the 2025/26 Non-League season

For many former Premier League players with an eye on management, the path is through coaching at their former club and then building through the ranks.

Some decide to start lower down the pyramid to learn their trade in non-league football.

In the case of three of these non-league managers, they’ve galvanised their teams into becoming contenders in their respective leagues and have become popular picks in the online football odds as a result.

These are the three stars with an eye on promotion from within the non-league system.

A Wolves icon moving Maidstone United up

A mighty centre back from 2008 to 2014, George Elokobi became an icon of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

This season, his former club was the pick of many a Premier League 2025/26 bet to get relegated, and after sacking their manager, those odds have only shortened to 1/10. Hiring Elokobi next would have had Molineux in fits of ecstasy.

However, having only begun at Maidstone United in 2023, and still only being 39 years old, it’d make sense that higher clubs would wait for Elokobi to prove himself first.

This season, he’s doing exactly that. As a player, the defender got his start with Dulwich Hamlet in non-league and ended with Maidstone United in a three-year stint.

So, it’d be fair to say that Elokobi is familiar with this level of football.

He’s utilised that experience with his emphasis on strong defensive setups to pull Maidenhead to 21 points in 14 games in the National League South – just three points back of the playoff spots. Now, they’re an outside shot to seal promotion.

Pundit turned manager now with Forest Green Rovers

After making his way through Manchester United’s system, Robbie Savage had to battle to get back to the top as a player.

Some stints went better than others, but the Welshman would collect over 500 appearances in the professional ranks.

He then turned to the media for a few years before coming to Macclesfield as their caretaker boss.

He got Macclesfield promoted to the National League North, and then signed on with Forest Green with an eye on getting them up from the National League.

At the time of writing, Savage’s efforts were powering Rovers firmly into playoff contention. He had 32 points in 16 games to sit two points back of Rochdale.

Another former Red Devils product returns home

Jonathan Greening went from York City to Manchester United to kick off his career before truly making a name for himself with Middlesbrough.

From there, he made himself a club legend at West Bromwich Albion, featuring prominently throughout their “Boing Boing” years and being named club captain.

Still sought out as an influential figure for comment whenever West Brom make a move, perhaps one day he’ll return to The Hawthorns as their manager.

For now, and since 2021, he’s been commanding from the sideline of his hometown club, Scarborough Athletic. After 15 games, he was sitting fourth on 26 points in 15 games.

As it stands, Elokobi, Savage, and Greening have a decent shot at battling for promotion by the time the season ends, further enhancing each former player’s legacy in the sport.