Charles Oliver Bell (18 May 1894 – 5 June 1939) was a footballer and manager.

Birth

There is some uncertainty over the details of Charlie Bell's birth. Some sources report him as being born in Dumfries in Scotland, although RSSSF states that he was born in Cambridge in England.

Playing career

Charlie started his footballing career as a junior with Dumfries Wanderers and after a short spell at Castle Douglas side, Douglas Wanderers, he decided to move down south, signing for Carlisle City. Charlie then played for other clubs south of the border, namely Woolwich Arsenal, Chesterfield, Barrow and Queens Park Rangers in a career impacted by World War I.

Coaching and management

After coaching jobs at Sporting Clube de Portugal, Reading and Notts County, he became a full-time manager at Wigan Borough. Charlie left England for Italy, where he coached Padova from 1927 to 1928. He came back to Lisbon with Sporting Clube de Portugal in 1928. In 1932, Charlie was the first Marseille manager in the newly founded French professional football championship. In France, he had also a stint at Nice. Charlie came back to England in 1935, with Mansfield Town and then managed Bournemouth for three years.

Honours

Sporting CP Marseille

Death

He died soon after, aged 45 in Bournemouth.