Keith Alexander is the current manager of Macclesfield Town. He took over as manager in the 2007/8 season, three seasons after he had guided Lincoln City past the Silkmen in the 2004/5 Playoffs.

Keith is an experienced manager at League Two level, taking charge of Lincoln City twice, Peterborough and now Macclesfield Town, as we well as being Director of Football at Bury last season.

Born in 1956, Keith Alexander started his career at his hometown club, Notts County. He failed to make an appearance for the Magpies before slipping into the non-league. Spells as Wisbech, Worksop, Clifton, Ilkeston Town, Kimberly Town and Alfreton Town were followed by successful spells at Stamford and Boston United.

Keith was quickly turning into a non-league journeyman. He rejoined Stamford after a spell at Kings Lynn. Spalding Town was his next destination before returning to Kings Lynn. Gratham Town and Kettering Town proved the breakthrough for Keith and he was part of a Barnet side that fought with Lincoln City for promotion from the Conference in the 1980's.

After transferring clubs 16 times in his first 14 years, Keith was finally given a chance in the Football League, joining Grimsby Town in 1988. 26 goals in 83 appearances were deemed a success and this convinced Stockport County to take a punt with him. However, he failed to score in 11 games before joining Lincoln City. He played 45 games in two seasons before becoming manager of the Imps.

He had a less than successful in his first spell as City manager, getting sacked by John Reames at the end of the season. However, with his appointment as Lincoln City's manager, he became the first ever black professional football manager in British history.

Playing spells at Mansfield, Cliftonville and Ilkeston Town followed before his finally retired as a professional footballer. His spell at Ilkeston Town saw him again become a manager. An average record was enough to convince Northwich Victoria to take him on. He impressed during his season as their manager, reaching the FA Cup and almost causing an upset against Leyton Orient.

His time at Northwich Victoria ended when he returned to Sincil Bank, this time as the assistant manager to Alan Buckley. City started to suffer from the collapse of ITV Digital and Alan Buckley, as well as some of the "better" players all left the club. Keith was appointed as permanent manager.

He assembled a non-league legion with players, his initial incoming players being Simon Weaver, Scott Willis, Simon Yeo, Ben Futcher, Adie Mike and Dene Cropper. Richard Butcher and Chris Cornelly, amongst others would also join later on in the season. They formed the nucleus of a team that shocked everyone, even City's own fans.

The Imps proved all the so-called "experts" wrong by making the Playoff final, not bad for teams who were supposedly guaranteed relegation. A 5-2 defeat may look bad on paper, but just reaching the final meant so much to City's fans. It seems almost strange looking back on it now that we were thrilled to make the Playoffs, oh the joy of hindsight.

Keith would stay with the Imps for three more seasons, making the Playoffs in each of those, but the 2003/4 season was memorable for the wrong reasons for Keith Alexander. Keith collapsed with a cerebral aneurysm just days after an FA Cup win over Brighton and Hove Albion. He was told that he had died three times whilst in hospital but he was fit enough to return the following February, a remarkable recovery with all things considered.

Keith's time at Sincil Bank ended after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Grimsby Town in the 2005/6 season. He cited the reason that he thought he had taken the club as far as he could, although many had a conspiracy theory that he had been offered a job by Barry Fry at Peterborough.......just days later and Keith was announced as the new manager at London Road.

Keith's time at London Road was a successful one, bringing in many of their current stars, such as George Boyd, Aaron McLean and Craig Mikael-Smith. However, despite building the initial stages of a squad that would win promotion, Keith was sacked by Darragh McAnthony following a run of bad results at Christmas.

Keith remained out of work until the following season, being appointed as Director of Football at Bury FC. However, there were strong rumours that he didn't get on with Bury's egotistical manager, Chris Casper. Both were sacked due to Bury's annual relegation battle.

In a very strange coincidence, just months after Lincoln City had appointed the manager who defeated them in the 2003/4 Playoffs, Macclesfield appointed Keith, who had defeated them in the following year's Playoffs.

Keith has now filled up Macclesfield's squad with a familiar bunch of players. Keith will certainly be hoping that he will fair better than the majority of Macclesfield fans before him.

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