5 best managers under the age of 40

#4 Lee Johnson

Lee Johnson has been quietly making his mark at Bristol City

Age: 35

Club: Bristol City

Lee Johnson spent his entire playing career in the 2^nd and 3^rd tiers of English football, appearing for Brighton & Hove Albion, Yeovil Town, Derby County, Chesterfield and Bristol City; the last of which he is currently managing and making a name for himself as one of the brightest, young managerial prospects in football today.

It also helps that footballing genetics runs in the family. His dad, Gary Johnson is as experienced a manager as they come, having spent a long and fruitful 30-year career in the dugout and is currently managing Cheltenham town in League two.

His father held the helm at Bristol City for 5 years between 2005-2010 while Lee was playing at the club, yet it can be assured that there was no nepotism involved when Lee was handed the job in February. He’d already overseen 2 good years at cash-strapped Oldham Athletic, guiding them to their highest ever league finish in 2013/14. After another year at Barnsley, his former club came calling and he took up the job at Ashton Gate.

After guiding them to 7 wins in 16 and avoiding relegation from the Championship by 12 points, he has overseen a fast start to this season, with the Robins sitting pretty in 9^th position.

If he continues this upward trajectory, it won’t be long before some of the bigger guns notice his talent and come calling.