FROM HAMILTON TO BOSTON
on things are getting better but I fear, as a sporting nation, we’re floundering.
“I would love to see greater ambition from our players, not just think they’ve had a brilliant career because they’ve won a move to Celtic or the English Championship.
“There’s a big football world out there and Scandinavian players, for example, don’t seem to be as limited in their horizons. They are willing to go all over the continent and believe it’s part of their education.
“We have a few scattered examples such as Oliver Burke and Ryan Gauld. Do players reach a comfort zone or is it because England’s on our doorstep? Ambitious people shouldn’t limit themselves.”
Rae made a commitment to his American wife Beth they would return to Massachusetts, where they have kept their home, and he will continue to work for ESPN but wants a wellearned break after commentating on 150 games a year for the last eight years.
A fluent German speaker, he’ll be commentating on the Bundesliga again next season, as well as the International Champions Cup this summer involving Europe’s top club sides at venues across the United States.
It’s a long way from the SuperSeal Stadium in Hamilton, the location of the last match he voiced in the Scottish season as Accies retained their top-flight status against Dundee United. He said: “BT Sport have been at the forefront of play-off broadcasts since they were re-introduced in 2014 and there’s an example of what you can do to create interest. I’d go even further and invent a play-off for one of the European spots as they do in many other countries.” He will miss Chris Sutton and Co going at it like hammer and tongs though won’t he? He laughed: “If we were in the pub you would have four or five different opinions about football. As long as it’s respectful and not personal, it’s all good and healthy.”
DEREK RAE