Meet the Gers boss .. same as the Celts boss
OLD FIRM COUNTDOWN Warbs and Bren shaped by Watford’s boot room
Mark Warburton and Brendan Rodgers honed their football philosophies alongside some of the game’s most progressive thinkers at Watford.
Now, eight years on, they are preparing to go head to head in the heat of an Old Firm battle at Celtic Park on Saturday.
And Warburton is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against his old boss for the first time.
The Rangers gaffer admits he holds similar views to Rodgers on how the game should be played.
Their paths f irst crossed at Vicarage Road back in 2008 when Rodgers left his job behind the scenes with Chelsea to become the main man at Watford.
Warburton was their academy director at the time and he believes they both benefited hugely from being part of an environment that he likened to the legendary boot room at Liverpool.
Future Burnley boss Sean Dyche was also part of Watford’s backroom staff, as was Scot Malky Mackay who went on to enjoy great success as Cardiff manager.
And Warburton said: “It was a good time to be at Watford. We had Brendan, Malky, Sean, myself and a guy called Dick Bate.
“I remember Brendan being very affable. He had the gift of the gab and could speak very easily to people. He was very well organised.
“He spoke a lot about Jose Mourinho in terms of his level of organisation – he referred to him as: ‘ The best organiser in the world.’
“Sean was my youth-team coach, I was academy director and Malky was first-team coach while Dick was around the f irst team and also worked with the academy.
“Dick was probably the best coach educator in the world bar none. So it was a great opportunity to learn.
“There was also a guy called Keith Mincher who was the FA’s psychologist, for want of a better word. Aidy Boothroyd (Rodgers’ predecessor as boss) got some good people on board. It was a bit like the Anfield boot room.”
Warburton may speak the same language as Rodgers in terms of their views on the game – but the Celtic boss often left him baffled by delivering some of his team meetings in Spanish.
The Ibrox boss added: “Brendan would say there’s a session plan for the first-team today and it was in Spanish. I was a bit confused by that.
“Malky, Sean and I were looking at each other in total bemusement and trying to work out what the diagrams were.
“I haven’t spoken to him since he came to Scotland, well not since the SPFL launch in pre-season.
“Over the years we would phone each other up occasionally. It’s just a normal relationship.
“Do I have a similar philosophy to Brendan? Well, you tell me. I know how I want the game to be played. Footballers want the ball.
“I always compare it to other businesses, it’s a bricklayer with no trowel. If you are a footballer and you are always running around, go and be an athlete.
“I hope players enjoy having the responsibility of the football. You are asking them to be brave, you are saying to the centre- half take it under pressure and pass to the No.10 with two men up his back.”
Warburton savoured his f irst taste of the derby last season when he defeated Ronny Dei la’s Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
He knows the Hoops look far stronger now but is hoping his side can triumph again at Parkhead on Saturday.
It’s the first taste of the Old Firm game for new signings such as Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar and Philippe Senderos but he’s sure they will rise to a new challenge. He said: “Any pro would relish that environment.
“Senderos, for all the games he has played in, cup finals, London derbies, Milan derbies, told me he can’t wait to be at the stadium and experience it. For all that Joey has done, he can’t wait. Niko played in a massive Hajduk Split v Dinamo Zagreb game.
“But what the players have to do is relish the responsibility and not be overcome. If they don’t look forward to these types of games then we’ve recruited badly.”
Barton will be in the spot l ight at Parkhead af ter taking digs at Rodgers and Hoops skipper Scott Brown in the media.
But Wa rbu r ton doesn’t have a problem with the midfielder – or any other player – being opinionated. He said: “Joey doesn’t say he’s right or wrong – it’s his viewpoint. He’s brave enough to do that.
“Jordan Rossiter wi l l g ive you hi s opinion too – and it will be equally as strong.
“Niko, Matt Crooks and Josh Windass also speak their mind.
“We want players to have that but we want to make sure they do it in a respectful manner.”