MOYES MADE ME THE MAN I AM TODAY, SAYS ALEXANDER
IN the carefree days of his early 20s, Graham Alexander was prone to cocking an ear to the little devil on his shoulder. That all changed once David Moyes got a hold of him and caused a sea change in his attitude at Preston North End. Moyes’ intervention led to the blossoming of the full-back’s career; from journeyman pro he suddenly became a full Scotland internationalist at 30. Like a fine wine he kept getting better and would eventually grace the Premier League with Burnley at the ripe age of 37.
Time will tell if his managerial career follows a similar pattern. But before accepting the challenge of his fourth permanent post at Motherwell, Alexander placed an important call to his mentor.
He said: ‘I spoke to David because I just wanted to know if this was what I think it is going to be. He has not managed here but he knows the scene and he was really good and honest.
‘He was the one who shook me up as a player, told me to get my life sorted. To be honest, I was a pain in the a**e.
‘I thank him now for his patience with me because he could easily have given up. He could see I had talent but we would clash because I thought I knew better.
‘He persevered with me and then finally the penny dropped and I thought what an idiot (I had been). I got called up for Scotland and I thought: “I have got to listen to this guy!” That was it, from that moment I was dedicated.
‘I have had other good managers who gave me my debut and so on. They had an influence on me but I probably was not old enough or mature enough to understand. Davie was the first one where I though, yeah that is it. And there is a little version of him on my shoulder every day.’
Moyes was just one in a long line of Scottish managers under whom Alexander played during a lengthy career for club and country.
It was not just Moyes who managed to coax something extra from the Coventry-born full-back. Although it was a German, Berti Vogts, who gave him his Scotland debut, it was while operating under Walter Smith that he truly came into his own in the dark-blue shirt.
At club level, Craig Brown and Owen Coyle brought something different out of him as he moved into what ought to have been the twilight years of his career. Their common quality? An authenticity that appeals to the unfussy aspect of Alexander’s personality.
‘I can’t believe how many Scottish managers I played for,’ he said smiling. ‘Preston, especially, has got a history of Scottish managers and players, and you do take something from that.
‘I understood from each of them they were being themselves. They weren’t trying to be anybody else.
‘They were different in their approaches — the differences between Moyes and Coyle are vast in how they manage players.
‘But I had promotions and great times under both of them.
‘That gave me the belief that you had to be authentic and true to yourself. That was the biggest thing I got from those guys.
‘Walter Smith with Scotland, too, and even George Burley, who wasn’t successful with the national team but who had a fantastic career as a player and a manager.
‘These people were themselves and they believed in how to play football in terms of how they saw it. That’s the biggest thing.
‘Generally, they were the ones who pushed and stretched and cajoled better performances out of me as a person.
‘I felt I was someone who gave everything but somehow they found extra. That is a key to management.
‘Sometimes — and I’ll put myself in this bracket — players think they’re doing the maximum but I always think there’s more to give.’
Although Alexander never did experience domestic football north of the border, at the age of 49 he has decided the time is right to try his hand in the Premiership.
After spells in charge of Fleetwood Town, Scunthorpe United and Salford City, he has accumulated experience.
However, knows that managing Motherwell will throw up a completely new challenge.
‘I think there are levels in this league,’ he continued. ‘I have experienced the quality of Scots players in the leagues in England, some I’ve played with and seen first hand.
‘There are fantastic coaches and managers through the history of Scottish football but I want to keep an open mind.
‘It’s completely different. It’s the same manager’s job but I haven’t experienced this and it’s why I was so determined to get this role. I wanted something different.
‘I didn’t think I had to prove anything in those divisions I had managed in.
‘I wanted to get a challenge I was excited about every day and having to prove to people I could be successful at this level. That’s the challenge for me.’
Yesterday’s 1-1 draw against St Mirren gave Alexander his first proper insight into what lies ahead. His predecessor Stephen Robinson was a fiery presence around Fir Park and, while Alexander will not shrink from confrontation, he may cut a more measured figure.
He said: ‘You learn over your playing days to control your emotions, and certainly on the managerial and coaching side you have to do that, too.
‘Sometimes they get the better of you and you lose it. You don’t want it to happen, but sometimes it can be useful. All of the managers I’ve spoken about had an edge.
‘If I have to be the players’ friend, I’ll be their friend. If not, I won’t. It’s about performance.’