Collingwood’s turbulent AFL off-season has resulted in premiership captain Nick Maxwell stepping into the club’s soon-to-be vacant football manager position.

The 37-year-old will share the role on an interim basis with Marcus Wagner after the experienced Geoff Walsh last week announced his retirement.

Maxwell retired from playing in 2014 after 208 games for Collingwood, highlighted by leading the Magpies to breaking a 20-year flag drought in 2010.

Never an on-field star, Maxwell always led by example, which allowed him to join NRL powerhouse Melbourne Storm and AFL expansion club Greater Western Sydney in leadership roles after his career finished.

He returned to Collingwood at the end of 2017, but will soon add coaching, analysis, player engagement and welfare to his leadership portfolio at the club.

Wagner has held numerous positions at Collingwood in the past 13 years, including being the performance and strategy manager in 2020.

The pair will take over when the long-serving Walsh leaves the Magpies on December 18.

Collingwood have undergone significant change since they suffered a humiliating semi-final defeat to Geelong in October.

Star midfielder Adam Treloar, former Rising Star winner Jaidyn Stephenson and wingman Tom Phillips were offloaded during the trade period to free up space in their bulging salary cap.

Treloar and Stephenson were hurt by how they were forced out of the club and have detailed their frustration at the process.