Corinthian-Casuals are delighted to announce the appointment of Mu Maan as our new men’s first-team manager.
Maan is already well known to Casuals fans from his three spells here as a player, during which he made 133 appearances and scored 20 goals. The midfielder first signed for us under Brian Adamson’s management back in 2009, before departing during the 2010/11 season, then rejoined under James Bracken in 2016, playing a role in our rise to the Isthmian Premier Division. After departing in autumn 2019, he returned for one more brief stint when Adamson stepped in as interim manager midway through the 2022/23 season.
An all-action central midfielder, Maan became a popular figure with the supporters, in no small part due to his knack of popping up with important goals, including a memorable free-kick in our epic 4-3 play-off semi-final victory over Greenwich Borough at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
Maan brings with him a wealth of experience of the non-league game in this region, having also played for Leatherhead, Dulwich Hamlet, Bognor Regis Town and Met Police during a playing career that also included a spell in Dubai.
Having successfully built up his waste management company, Skip It, in recent years, the 35-year-old has now decided to step into football management, and cannot wait to get started.
“Corinthian-Casuals holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “It is more than just a football club to me – it is home. I am a local lad and my connection to the club runs deep. I understand what Corinthian-Casuals means to the fans and the community, and I am keen to bring my skills and dedication to increase the remarkable work being done behind the scenes.
“This opportunity represents a significant project for me – one that I approach with a lot of seriousness and commitment. My intention is to invest myself fully in the success and longevity of Corinthian-Casuals. If given the chance, I would sign a 10-year contract tomorrow.
“On the pitch, my priority lies in assembling a team that mirrors the values of Corinthian-Casuals – respect and integrity. Together, we will set high standards, support one another and strive for success.”
Maan brings with him a new technical director, Ali Gsaib, who has worked in the top flights of Algerian, Congolese and Moroccan football, and has English non-league coaching experience with Faversham Town and Clapton FC. His backroom staff will also feature brother Mo Maan, a former Corinthian-Casuals goalkeeper; Richard Blackwell, previously of Croydon Athletic and Carshalton Athletic; and Casuals stalwart, Alan Winnett, who was goalkeeping coach under James Bracken.
Maan is already well known to Casuals fans from his three spells here as a player, during which he made 133 appearances and scored 20 goals. The midfielder first signed for us under Brian Adamson’s management back in 2009, before departing during the 2010/11 season, then rejoined under James Bracken in 2016, playing a role in our rise to the Isthmian Premier Division. After departing in autumn 2019, he returned for one more brief stint when Adamson stepped in as interim manager midway through the 2022/23 season.
An all-action central midfielder, Maan became a popular figure with the supporters, in no small part due to his knack of popping up with important goals, including a memorable free-kick in our epic 4-3 play-off semi-final victory over Greenwich Borough at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
Maan brings with him a wealth of experience of the non-league game in this region, having also played for Leatherhead, Dulwich Hamlet, Bognor Regis Town and Met Police during a playing career that also included a spell in Dubai.
Having successfully built up his waste management company, Skip It, in recent years, the 35-year-old has now decided to step into football management, and cannot wait to get started.
“Corinthian-Casuals holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “It is more than just a football club to me – it is home. I am a local lad and my connection to the club runs deep. I understand what Corinthian-Casuals means to the fans and the community, and I am keen to bring my skills and dedication to increase the remarkable work being done behind the scenes.
“This opportunity represents a significant project for me – one that I approach with a lot of seriousness and commitment. My intention is to invest myself fully in the success and longevity of Corinthian-Casuals. If given the chance, I would sign a 10-year contract tomorrow.
“On the pitch, my priority lies in assembling a team that mirrors the values of Corinthian-Casuals – respect and integrity. Together, we will set high standards, support one another and strive for success.”
Maan brings with him a new technical director, Ali Gsaib, who has worked in the top flights of Algerian, Congolese and Moroccan football, and has English non-league coaching experience with Faversham Town and Clapton FC. His backroom staff will also feature brother Mo Maan, a former Corinthian-Casuals goalkeeper; Richard Blackwell, previously of Croydon Athletic and Carshalton Athletic; and Casuals stalwart, Alan Winnett, who was goalkeeping coach under James Bracken.
Chairman Brian Adamson is delighted with the return of his former player to this new role in the dugout and spoke candidly about the appointment.
“Firstly, I would like to welcome Mu back to Corinthian-Casuals. I had the pleasure of making him one of my first signings for the club when I was manager in 2009. He did so well for me that Leatherhead came along and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“Mu was a leader in the dressing room and always wanted the best for the team and the club. I remember a few years back when he had been playing in Dubai and returned to the UK. He phoned me and said he wanted to go back to Casuals and asked if I had any connections there. That’s when I introduced him to James Bracken.
“When I took over as chairman, I was very frustrated with the appointment of previous managers. Some of them were on a club merry-go-round, getting a job here, then getting the sack and moving onto the next club. Our previous managers had been long serving and this is what is best for our club.
“My first thoughts were, ‘Let’s find a young, keen manager who has got a good team around them, who knows the club and what it stands for… someone looking to get into management.’
“So, why not Mu? He played over 130 first-team games for us, and was captain of Corinthian-Casuals, Leatherhead and Met Police. He knows how to run a dressing room and is a very successful businessman who employs a number of people, so he knows how to communicate like a leader.
“‘But it’s his first job,’ I hear you say. Well, let me remind you all of Scott Harris, who went to Walton & Hersham at Step 6 with no experience in managing and was given his first job. He guided them to three promotions and was very close to a fourth this season. Now I am not saying Mu is going to win three promotions in a row, I am just saying let’s give someone young and keen the opportunity to guide our great club back to where it belongs.
“We tried the merry-go-round and that got us relegated twice. It’s time to get off the merry-go-round and I believe we have the right man for the club and its loyal fans.
“I am very much looking forward to working with Mu and his team.”
Images: Harvey Abbott and Stuart Tree
“Firstly, I would like to welcome Mu back to Corinthian-Casuals. I had the pleasure of making him one of my first signings for the club when I was manager in 2009. He did so well for me that Leatherhead came along and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“Mu was a leader in the dressing room and always wanted the best for the team and the club. I remember a few years back when he had been playing in Dubai and returned to the UK. He phoned me and said he wanted to go back to Casuals and asked if I had any connections there. That’s when I introduced him to James Bracken.
“When I took over as chairman, I was very frustrated with the appointment of previous managers. Some of them were on a club merry-go-round, getting a job here, then getting the sack and moving onto the next club. Our previous managers had been long serving and this is what is best for our club.
“My first thoughts were, ‘Let’s find a young, keen manager who has got a good team around them, who knows the club and what it stands for… someone looking to get into management.’
“So, why not Mu? He played over 130 first-team games for us, and was captain of Corinthian-Casuals, Leatherhead and Met Police. He knows how to run a dressing room and is a very successful businessman who employs a number of people, so he knows how to communicate like a leader.
“‘But it’s his first job,’ I hear you say. Well, let me remind you all of Scott Harris, who went to Walton & Hersham at Step 6 with no experience in managing and was given his first job. He guided them to three promotions and was very close to a fourth this season. Now I am not saying Mu is going to win three promotions in a row, I am just saying let’s give someone young and keen the opportunity to guide our great club back to where it belongs.
“We tried the merry-go-round and that got us relegated twice. It’s time to get off the merry-go-round and I believe we have the right man for the club and its loyal fans.
“I am very much looking forward to working with Mu and his team.”
Images: Harvey Abbott and Stuart Tree
