LOTS OF STRESS, BUT WINS MAKE IT SPECIAL

OVER the course of the last week, I met up with two of my former players who are now embarking on coaching careers and who asked me for guidance on becoming the best they can be as coaches.

Managing a game in a dugout is second nature to me now, 893 games on. But the lads’ energy for the role got me thinking about the challenges that are presented at 3pm.

A manager obviously faces the pressure of a crowd – home and away fans. There is an enormous responsibility to deliver for your club’s supporters and sustaining their trust is really important.

And the manager can play a key role, too, in the way the opposition fans behave. Especially in distracting/diverting their support.

The field of play needs reading. And managing. Threats of the opposition. Opportunities for routes to goal. Tiring players. Injury management. Positional adjustments. Formation changes. Game plan evolution. It is a constant workload.

The media are scrutinising and it’s important to consider the effect of the dugout on the club’s image; on its brand and reputation.

And last, but not least, there is a psychological war going on between the dugouts that somehow, inevitably, gets reflected on the pitch.

Winning that battle plays its part in winning the game. It affects decisions, timings, mood, belief. Drain their bench and their team weakens.

By the final whistle, there are exhausted men and women leaving dugouts throughout the country. The mental challenge and the physical effect is tough. It takes Trojan efforts to sustain a fresh zest for the next duel.

But to those young men asking for advice I still say today – there is nothing quite like it when you win.