Arsenal legend Sol Campbell appointed manager of Macclesfield Town

The former Gunners defender and England international has been handed an 18-month contract at Moss Rose

Sol Campbell has been appointed first-team manager of Macclesfield Town on an 18-month contract, the club have confirmed.

The former Arsenal defender and England international, who has been vocal in his desire to be given a chance in management, has been charged with guiding the Silk Men away from the foot of League Two.

In a statement announcing his appointment on their official club website, Macclesfield hailed Campbell as a "born winner" and "one of the best English defenders of his generation".

"We are delighted to announce him as our new first team manager," they said, adding that a press conference to unveil Campbell to the media will be held on Thursday afternoon.

Widely respected during his illustrious playing career - though reviled by the vast majority of Tottenham fans for his controversial decision to join rivals Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001 - Campbell has established a reputation as an outspoken figure since his retirement in 2011.

Campbell has been pushing for a chance in management for some time (Getty)

He made headlines in March 2014 by claiming that institutional racism on the part of the Football Association ensured he was never chosen to captain England during any of his 73 international appearances, and he has also suggested that "archaic" attitudes within the game were making it more difficult for him to get a first managerial job.

In 2015 he revealed his passion for shooting, saying that he had taken up the hobby while studying for his coaching badges and that he killed "about 30 birds" over the course of a year.

After missing out on the Oxford United job in February, Campbell claimed that too many clubs were afraid to appoint "one of the greatest minds in football".

He has also been active politically, and in 2015 he ran for the Conservative Party nomination for the Mayor of London in the 2016 election - though he was not one of the four candidates to make the final shortlist.

Macclesfield, who have been without a permanent manager since sacking Mark Yates in October, lie bottom of League Two having won just two of their 19 matches this season and scored only 13 goals.