I’m a former Arsenal star who signed Jack Grealish, now I’m managing world’s 207th ranked side in the ‘Virgin derby’

FORMER Arsenal star Chris Kiwomya once signed Jack Grealish for Notts County.

But now he’s managing the 207^th-best team in world football ahead of the “Virgin derby.”

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Chris Kiwomya faces one of the biggest games of his career in the ‘Virgin derby’[/caption]

The player-turned-manager used to star for ArsenalGetty Images - Getty

Kiwomya, 54, spent three years playing for the Gunners after a £1.25million move from Ipswich Town in 1995.

He also starred for QPR while taking in spells at foreign clubs including Le Havre and Aalborg.

And after retiring in 2002, Kiwomya turned his hand to coaching Arsenal’s U14s.

His first experience in the dugout came at former club Ipswich, where he scored 51 goals in 224 outings.

Kiwomya impressed as boss of their reserves between 2008 and 2011, bringing through the likes of Jordan Rhodes and Connor Wickham.

And he finally got his big chance as manager of League One side Notts County in 2013.

Among his loan signings were now-Man City superstar Grealish and Celtic icon Callum McGregor.

Kiwomya only lasted seven months in the job despite an impressive draw at Anfield against Liverpool in the League Cup.

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He returned to management in 2021 with the British Virgin Islands, and has since stuck with the tiny Caribbean nation.

They are ranked 207^th in Fifa’s world football list.

Kiwomya once signed Jack Grealish for Notts CountyPA

He hopes to lead the British Virgin Islands to glory against their American rivalsPA

But Kiwomya now faces one of the biggest games of his life in the “Virgin derby.”

That’s because the British Virgin Islands are set for a crunch World Cup qualifier against their American neighbours.

The US Virgin Islands, ranked 208^th in the world, host the first leg of their first round encounter on Friday.

There is just 20km in distance between the closest points of each island.

However, there will be no love lost between the two sides when they finally meet.

They have met seven times in total, with the Brits winning three encounters and the American winning two.

But the US Virgin Islands are unbeaten in their last four matches against their rivals.

And the British Virgin Islands will be hoping stars like Taylor Scarff, a brickie from Plymouth who was once on Liverpool’s books, can make the difference this time round.

Scarff, who now plays for non-league side Tavistock, told Plymouth Live: “Chris was mustard and you could tell he had been around professional football for however many years.

“He was so spot on with everything and knew what he was talking about. He was a really good bloke.

“The facilities at the hotel, I can’t fault it, it was top drawer. I stayed in a room that overlooked the sea, we had the pool below us and the food was spot on, really good food.

“We then trained on an AstroTurf, which was good, but it was very hot. We were training in 31 degrees, but I had my sun cream and things, so it wasn’t too bad.

“But they absolutely love their football over there. They have a local league and play on Saturdays and Sundays and play on the same pitch we used. But they are fanatical and absolutely love it.”