Brown teams up with ex-coach for Indian adventure
WES Brown is travelling 5,142 miles to keep alive his love affair with football.
The former United defender has signed for Indian Super League team Kerala Blasters.
“I just love being in a football environment, being with the lads, getting the buzz, playing. While I can still run, I will play,” Brown told M.E.N. Sport.
Brown’s new adventure sparked into life when the Blasters, whose major shareholder is Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, appointed former United coach Rene Meulensteen as manager in July.
Almost immediately Sir Alex Ferguson’s one-time assistant was on the phone inviting 37-year-old Brown to the south west Indian coastal state of Kerala to join for the new 2017-18 season, which begins in November.
“I had been asked a few times over the past few years to give it a go but I always wanted to stay in England and play here for as long as I could,” Wes went on.
“But when Rene got hold of me I just felt I was ready, it was something different, a new challenge and a new experience.
“My former United colleague Mikael Silvestre has been over there and I spoke to him about the experience and he said I’d love it. He said the fans are enthusiastic, atmospheres are good and it is always buzzing at matches. So I thought it was worth a go.
“Ex-United goalkeeper Paul Rachubka is also going out to Kerala. We got in contact again and it will be good to have someone else out there with me on the playing side.”
Brown has not even been out to his new home in Kochi or seen the Blasters’ 61,000 capacity Jawaharlal Nehur Stadium in person but did his homework on the internet.
“I’ve had a look at the area on the internet and when I have mentioned where I am going to people they all say it is lovely there so I’m excited,” added Wes.
“I also watched some of the Blasters’ matches on the internet as well. But really it was Rene’s influence that persuaded me. He is a top man and a top coach.
“When I was at United he taught me a lot. He really helped during that period when I was switching to right-back. He’s a very good technical coach and all the little tips he gave me eased me into that role and helped me.”