Gareth Ainsworth’s lucky red cowboy boots (see above – sadly he doesn’t wear them outside his trousers) served him well at Wembley on Monday. His Wycombe Wanderers side beat Oxford United in the League One play-off final, to spark celebrations no less joyous for the lack of a crowd.
Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, one of English football’s great interviewees, gave his thoughts on his gaffer’s footwear before Ainsworth paid tribute to the power of snakeskin:
Unbuttoned shirt ✅
Lucky leather shoes ✅Gareth Ainsworth might just be the coolest manager around! 😎 pic.twitter.com/eD5J7m8x37
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) July 14, 2020
Congrats to Gareth and Wycombe. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke.
Bonus stat: Ainsworth is the longest-serving manager in England’s top four tiers. He’s been managing the Chairboys since September 2012, roughly a month longer than Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe and Burnley’s Sean Dyche.