Stockport assistant Andy Mangan denied Real Madrid move due to Brexit regulations

The Stockport assistant coach Andy Mangan has been denied a move to Real Madrid after being refused a work permit.

A ­journeyman striker as a player, Mangan has developed a bur­geoning reputation as a coach. He had hoped to swap League One for working with Carlo Ancelotti in the ­Champions League but because of Brexit ­regulations his application was rejected. Acquiring a work permit to work in Spain can take up to nine months.

Mangan had been preparing to coach Kylian Mbappé, Jude ­Bellingham and the rest of Madrid’s star-studded side but the 38-year-old will continue to coach at Stockport, who are second and hunting a third promotion in four seasons under Dave Challinor.

Mangan did his Uefa coaching badges alongside Ancelotti’s son, Davide, who is part of the staff at Madrid, and the pair have a close ­relationship. Mangan previously worked alongside Joey Barton as a coach at Fleetwood and ­Bristol ­Rovers. He joined Stockport’s ­coaching staff in March with his ­primary focus on working with attacking players and enjoyed ­success as Stockport won League Two last season.

As a player, Mangan spent most of his career in non-league with ­Forest Green, Wrexham, Fleetwood and Tranmere. He won one cap with England C, the representative team for non‑league male players.