Where Are They Now: Aston Villa's Ken McNaught

Jul 18 2011 by Brian Dick, Sunday Mercury

EUROPEAN Cup hero Ken McNaught travelled to the other side of the world and spent a quarter of a century searching for something to live up to his playing days – only to find it just where he’d left them.

After years managing golf resorts, feeding hungry Aussie gold miners and even putting together Italian door-kits, the Villa legend has finally come back to where he made name.

Just four weeks ago the former centre-half returned to Villa Park, 31 years after he first signed from Everton, as the newly-appointed general manager of the Aston Villa Former Players’ Association – and he couldn’t be happier.

“I have been all round the world looking for a replacement for football and I’ve ended up coming back to Birmingham and back to football,” the 56-year-old chuckles.

“All players look for a replacement. The dressing room banter, the craic, being associated with something that once meant everything. And finally I’ve found it.”

McNaught’s new office looks out on the Holte End and is just a Nigel Spink drop kick from the pitch where he spent the happiest time of his career.