Lee tells Killie kids to follow his example
LEE McCULLOCH has held himself up as the perfect example for Kilmarnock players to follow if they want to succeed in the game.
The former Rangers star will be in interim charge of the Rugby Park side for the visit of Aberdeen today following the departure of Lee Clark in midweek.
While he is cagey about whether he fancies the role in the long term, he is very clear about the message he wants to get across to them in his team leading the club.
“I wasn’t an ‘off your seats’ player, a fans’ favourite, a skilful player. I didn’t have the ability of half my team-mates,” he said.
“But what I did have was dedication, sacrifice. It wasn’t a turn up to training at nine, leave at one and that’s my work done type. It was 24/7 for me.
“You need to eat it, sleep it, breathe it for the full day, the full week. Everything is preparation.
“I was going out running at night, I didn’t eat after 6pm. What I was bringing to the team wasn’t fancy flicks and turns, it was work rate, set plays for and against, aggression and winning my headers.
“I wanted to win. I was a winner. I am a winner. I don’t think anyone can take that away from me.
“Yes, when I was at Rangers, I wasn’t a Pedro Mendes or a Steve Davis. But one of the best managers in Scotland, Walter Smith, played me.
“Why would he do that? I must be doing something right.”
“So I had a realisation of what I brought to the team and through that, out of the sacrifice and dedication I had for my own game, I enjoyed a good career.
“That’s what I’m trying to say to the players here. It’s not about the Ronaldo flicks or Lionel Messi tricks. It’s about being a dedicated football player on and off the pitch.
“Brendan Rodgers did a great article that I printed and showed to all the young boys here. It was about Leigh Griffiths, and it was just what I said: he doesn’t seem dedicated enough at this moment to be a Celtic player.
“To be a top, football player, you need that.”
McCulloch should know. He made over 200 appearances for Rangers and turned out for Wigan Athletic in England’s top flight.
And, as he revealed, he also set his sights high when trying to prepare himself for the move into coaching.
“I’ve been down to Man City and different football clubs to see the way they’re doing it, the way they bring their youths up,” he said.
“I was just trying to see their academy structure. I missed the first team but I learned a lot over a couple of days.
“I’m just driven to get better and better.”