A hilarious video emerges on social media of Alan Curbishley as he returns to Charlton Athletic in a new role, the Head of AI.
Yep, you read that right, hours leading up to the fixtures being release at 12pm, the Addicks announced the appointment of the 68 year old as the club’s new Head of Artificial Intelligence.
A now they have posted a video, a witty sketch if you like, which has got fans laughing, while others found it all a bit bizarre.
Ahead of this afternoon’s fixture release, we are delighted to announce the appointment of legendary former manager Alan Curbishley as the club’s new Head of Artificial Intelligence 🤖#cafc
— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) June 25, 2026
FIXTURE RELEASE LEAK! 🚨
Opening day: Birmingham City (h)?
Boxing Day: Millwall (a)?Head of AI Alan Curbishley has the inside track on our Championship fixtures (apparently) 🤷♂️#cafc pic.twitter.com/JTMfjHyqhR
— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) June 25, 2026
The club said in a unique statement on their website: “Charlton Athletic are delighted to announce the appointment of legendary former manager Alan Curbishley as the club’s new Head of Artificial Intelligence.
“20 years after departing The Valley as manager, Curbishley returns to SE7 in a pioneering role that places the club at the forefront of football’s rapidly evolving technological ecosystem, innovation matrix and synergistic data-enabled future landscape.
The appointment follows an extensive global recruitment process, during which the club’s AI systems analysed “over 47 billion data points, 12,000 leadership profiles and one particularly positive Tripadvisor review before unanimously concluding that Alan Curbishley was, statistically, Alan Curbishley.
“As Head of AI, Curbishley will oversee the club’s entire artificial intelligence strategy, including machine learning, predictive analytics, neural networks, algorithmic optimisation and predictive modelling of Blackwall Tunnel traffic patterns to optimise journeys to away games.
“Supporters can also look forward to a series of innovations under Curbishley’s leadership, including AI-generated post-match interviews, predictive matchday pie consumption modelling and a revolutionary system capable of accurately forecasting whether a referee’s decision will frustrate Charlton fans.
“Everyone at Charlton Athletic would like to welcome Alan back to The Valley and wish him every success in his new role as Head of AI, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Innovation and, according to the latest organisational chart, “Various Computer Things”.
“Further updates on the club’s digital transformation roadmap, strategic intelligence framework and football-adjacent technological ecosystem will follow in due course.
“Meanwhile, the Addicks’ men’s team’s fixtures for the 2026/27 season will be revealed at 12pm on Thursday afternoon, which will see Curbishley immediately spring into action as he prepares for the new campaign in his role.”
Alan has played for the likes of West Ham, Birmingham, Aston Villa, Charlton and Brighton, before managing Charlton between 1991 until 2006, then West Ham for two years, then was a technical director and coach at Fulham.
Curbishley has also had a stand named after him at The Valley, the East Stand renamed in 2021.
He’s appeared in many an interview reflecting on his career, telling stories but also gave his take on football today and explained why it isn’t exciting anymore.
Here’s how fans reacted after a hilarious video emerges of Alan Curbishley as he returns to Charlton in a new role…
James Vogle: creative team needs a raise, unreal
@sarahfinn8: Definitely a joke this 😂😂
@SCitigold: Just sign some Championship-standard players for fees, like other clubs in this league including our neighbours in SE8 are doing. Unfunny socials don’t add anything.
@stevejones4497: Love this, clearly the heat has got to media team! 😂🤣
@phil_cullum: Love Curbs, but really 🤔 😅⚽️
@M_BreezyFM: That is a lot to unpack in just one tweet.
@Sheepie_1985: Bit late for April fools lads!
@joekrishnan: I’d love to know how this came about because whaaaaaaaaaaaat?!
@jordandavies09: Hahahahhahahahaha as the what of what?
@avfcbreaking: Is it April?
@danbashamCAFC: Put our oldest employee in charge of the newest technology. That’s such a Charlton thing to do. Up the Addicks.
@LeeDForster: Am I suffering from heatstroke?
@mikehn001: What’s the date? First? April? No. I’m lost
@DanHatton97: In what world is Alan Curbishley associated with AI? 😂
@jbennett1997: This is the most random thing I’ve ever seen
@HLTCO: Alan Curbishley back in work as the man who will liaise with our future robot overlords on behalf of Charlton Athletic. 😂
@akapauldavis: What in gods name is this 🤣
@SportGrillBlog: 🤣🤣 Fair play to @CAFCofficial for this #EFLFixtures sketch.
Liam Kemsley: Even coming from a neutral your social media team needs a massive pay rise 😂
Darren Jukes: So Funny 😆 well done Pete and Curbs 🏴🏴⚽️⚽️
Kieran Keogh: well done Charlton that was brilliant 🤣🤣🤣
Charlie Rose: Nothing artificial about the great Curbs.
Perry Bartlett: Nice to see a bit of humour in football for a change…
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