Three Games, Two Days, Many Lessons Learned
I have always admired English football and feel lucky to have performed at various levels during my playing days. Since retiring in 2012, I have been back to the UK twice a year on average, as I use my contacts in the game to enhance by coaching education. I’ve watched academies at Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United; looking at how they develop their young talent – the future of the game – and comparing the methods to those in Switzerland.
Last weekend, I returned to the United Kingdom to further my knowledge. With great thanks to Jordan Milson, who I worked with at Leicester City where he was our Rehabilitation and Fitness Coach, I was able to watch Liverpool’s Under-18s play Manchester United’s Under-18s. Jordan has worked with the first team at Liverpool and now works closely with the Under-18s, who are managed by a legend of the game in Steven Gerrard. I can’t thank Jordan enough for organising a huge part of my trip and for making sure I was looked after.
During my time coaching at FC Zurich’s academy, I worked with a player named Nishan Burkart – one of the most dynamic and quickest strikers I 
have coached at that level. In 2016, he signed for Manchester United – so I was hoping to see him play against Liverpool. Sadly, due to a minor injury, Nishan couldn’t play, but still came to say hello. It was great to have a catch-up and chat about his time at a huge club in Manchester United.
The game itself had it all. High intensity, emotion, plenty of technical skills on show, a player sent off, four goals (the match ended in a 2-2 draw) and snow falling.
What stood out for me was the intensity that the game was played at; very different to Swiss academy football. Right from the start, the game was played at a high tempo with real commitment. Unfortunately, due to the snow and ice, the technical side of the game became difficult to judge.
Wellens Impressing in Management
Later that same day, I joined my good friend Dean Eldredge from Oporto Sports Management in visiting Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park for their League One game against Northampton Town, managed by former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. In the Oldham dugout is a former team-mate of mine from my days at Leicester City, Richie Wellens.
It was great to see how pro-active and encouraging his coaching was during the game. Oldham played some very good football and fully deserved their fantastic 5-1 win on the day. Watching the match, it reminded me of the physicality involved in playing in League 1; the division Leicester City were in when I joined the club. That physicality is still present today.
After the game, Richie and I caught up (main picture) and had an amusing chat. I’m so pleased to see that one of my former team-mates from Leicester is doing well at the moment and, more importantly, is enjoying himself doing too.
My First Trip to Anfield
On Sunday, I was fortunate enough to watch Liverpool against Everton at Anfield – the Merseyside derby; a huge game for both sets of supporters in a football-mad city. The game completed my hat-trick of matches over the weekend and coincided with my first trip to Anfield, an amazing experience. Having witnessed academy and League One matches, the game provided me with Premier League football – the highest level of English football. I could see the difference in football all over the park and whilst it probably won’t go down as one of the greatest Merseyside derbies, the quality of technical ability, technical understanding, physical emphasis and decision making was spot on.
Coincidentally, my seat was just two rows behind the seats of Craig Shakespeare and Steve Walsh, who were assistant managers during my time at Leicester City. They are now first-team coach and Director of Football at Everton respectively. It was nice to have the chance to shake their hands and quickly wish them the best of luck for the game.
The match finished as a 1-1 draw – and I think both Steve and Craig were very happy with the point.
It was a great weekend; a busy one filled with so much that I can take with me. I’ll hopefully be back in the United Kingdom again very soon.
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