THE GOOD, THE MAD & THE HUGLY
Mcmanus: Stephen has crazy moments but he’s a top gaffer who loves to put his arm around you and make you feel like the best footballer in the world
TAM MCMANUS saw enough of Stephen Kenny’s methods to know he’s no ordinary manager.
Bizarre training regimes and eccentric team talks were part and parcel of life playing under the Dubliner at Dunfermline and Derry City.
But with the former Pars gaffer now preparing for his dream job having succeeded Mick Mccarthy as manager of his country, Mcmanus is convinced he is made for the Republic of Ireland position.
The striker was signed by Kenny in February 2007 with Dunfermline juggling a relegation battle with a run to the Scottish Cup Final.
It may have ended in double disappointment but the signs were already there that the manager had a certain quality about him.
Mcmanus said: “Stephen’s man-management was way ahead of anyone. He made you feel as if you were the best player in the world.
That’s a gift for any manager. He just had to add the other bits.
“He was eccentric, to say the least. His training was odd, some sessions were completely wacky.
“I remember someone came up with a stat that showed we hadn’t scored enough from outside the box.
“So at Pitreavie – the place we used for training – he had us lined up on the halfway line. We were to take three or four touches then get a shot in on goalkeeper Dorus De Vries. Simple as that.
“But it was against the wind and I swear we must have gone 15 minutes and nobody could get near scoring. Stephen got angrier and angrier.
“In the end one of the boys had to whisper to Dorus to just let a shot in.
“Next thing big Dorus has dived right over the top of one. Stephen was delighted and said, ‘Right lads, that’ll do, come on in!’.
“He was the same at Derry. He would come into the dressing room, roll his sleeves up then pace around for a couple of minutes not saying anything. The boys would be looking blankly at each other then he’d suddenly explode into a speech, all animated and roaring.
“He was eccentric but he was the best at building you up to play for him. You’d be bursting to go and do well.
“That’s why he’s perfect for an international manager’s job because you don’t get a lot of time with the players to coach, you have to get the best out of them in a short period of time.”
Kenny endured a school of hard knocks at Pars but Mcmanus reckons the it has helped shape him as a boss.
He said: “You have to remember how young he was when he came in at Dunfermline.
“He was only about 34 but I