A former head of state managed clubs in the centre of Oxford (6)
I believe the answer is:
franco
'a former head of state' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'managed clubs in the centre of oxford' is the wordplay.
'managed' becomes 'ran' (both can mean organised or was in charge of).
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'in the' indicates putting letters inside.
'centre of' means to look at the middle letters.
The central letters of 'oxford' are 'fo'.
'ran'+'c'='ranc'
'ranc' put into 'fo' is 'FRANCO'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for franco that I've seen before include "Former Spanish dictator" , "General . . . . . . was Spain's last dictator" , "Spanish general and dictator" , "Former Spanish leader" , "Last dictator of Spain" .)