After retiring as a player, Hale managed several teams in the League of Ireland, most notably, Cork Celtic, Waterford United and Kilkenny City.
In 1971–72 Hale was player-manager of the side when they beat Cork Hibernians in dramatic circumstances at Flower Lodge to claim his fifth league title in six seasons.
[5] Hale signed for Doncaster Rovers in the summer of 1962 and made his debut for the club on 18 August in a 2–0 defeat to Brentford in the Football League Fourth Division.
He scored four goals in a single game as he helped Rovers to a record league win when they beat Darlington.
Between 1995 and 1999 he was manager of Kilkenny City and in 1997, with a team which included the likes of his Nephew Richie, Brendan Rea, Paul Cashin and Pascal Keane, he guided them to the First Division title.
After leaving Kilkenny, Hale remained active in junior football working with Waterford Crystal F.C.
At the same time as managing various League of Ireland clubs, Hale also established himself as a businessman in the Waterford area.
In 1978, he opened a sports shop, later trading under the name Alfie Hale's Intersport and located at Arundal Square.