Trips to Ibrox help Malky get talent in
Malky Mackay has gone from starring in the richest game in the world to managing in a town where the entire populat ion would fill less than a 15th of Wembley Stadium.
But the Ross County boss would always recommend his sleepy, adopted corner of the Highlands as the perfect breeding ground for young ta lent at England’s giants.
Part of the great selling point is games like today’s trip to Ibrox.
Mackay played in the 2006 Championship playoff win that took Watford into England’s Premier League at Leeds’ expense.
He also took Cardiff to the League Cup Final and secured promotion to the millionaires’ playground top f light with the same club in 2013.
County’s budget is d e c e n t u nd e r R o y MacGregor but summer loan deals cut by Mackay for players such as Arsenal’s Harry Clarke, Jake Vokins of Southampton and Manche s t e r C i t y ’ s Alexander Robertson would hardly register on club bank accounts south of the border.
Mackay put great stock in persuading not only the clubs but also the players that Scottish football would help prepare them for the intensity of life at the top in England.
He said: “Scotland is obsessed about football in a way I love. The intensity, scrutiny and demands, even at a club like ours, are something a lot of folk down south would barely believe.
“That’s what I tell players coming up here. The supporters are passionate and so are the journalists. We all love the game.
“It’s on TV and radio all the time, in every paper and on social media, they’ ll be talked about and performances picked over. I tell them they’ll love that and learn from it.
“It can prepare them for what awaits if they make it to the highest level in
England and it can help them get there.
“In England it’s regional except if it’s the likes of Man United, Arsenal or Liverpool. But the whole country talks about you in Scotland and if players come here they play in two of the best stadiums in the world in Glasgow, in front of frenzied fans.
“In the summer I told them they could come and have some of the best experiences of their lives. I told them they’d step out there and go, ‘ Wow.’”
Mackay will counsel all of his players on the need to retain cool heads at Ibrox.
He added: “Before players step into that for the f i rst time, you make them aware of the situation they are going into. Others at our club have been there, seen it and done it, and some were childhood fans as well, some have friends and family who go there.
“Once you’ve got a plan and worked on your tactics, it just becomes another game. Somebody asked me what it feels like playing in front of 70,000 in the richest game in the world.
“At the time, when the whistle blows, you don’t even see the fans – you’re in another game. If you stopped to think about it you probably wouldn’t even put the boots on.
“So I want a calmness from them at Ibrox but it’s good there’s adrenalin as well. I wanted to play in front of as many people as possible, against the best and at the best stadiums, because there’s nothing better. So should they.”
I tell players if they come here they get to play in two of the best stadiums in the world in front of frenzied fans