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What teams/managers do you like to emulate in your coaching? I’m just curious what you guys watch and how it informs your game.
For example, my biggest recent influence is probably Roberto Martínez at Everton. Before things went tits-up at the community college I coached, I taught our guys some basic attacking patterns based on my own observations of some early Everton matches this season. Basically, we had a left-footed left winger who used to play with the Sounders Academy who could tear people apart 1v1. So I built an attacking pattern that overloaded the middle and was designed to get him isolated with the opposite right back by pulling wide at the exact right moment. He would take a player on, cut back a cross from the end line, and we’d score at least once a game or at least get multiple opportunities.
I’ve noticed Martínez really likes to overload the middle to create wide isolation points. He’s got some crazy 1v1 specialists on the wings. (I did this full tactical analysis earlier this season.)
I’m curious to learn from some others. What trends have you noticed from teams/managers that have influenced the way you coach?
For me there have been two main influences. The first was the late, great Brian Clough. A man who took over at a small 2nd division team in 1975 and in 5 years had won the European Cup twice. One of his many quotes was ” If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds he’d have put grass up there “. A complicated man who believed in good behavior on the pitch but he often found himself in trouble over some of the things he said and did . He could be a real sob but was kind enough to invite a young boy on holiday from Vancouver into his office to chat about football on a couple of occasions. Not known as a tactician, yet he was one of the few in England that he marked zonally on corners, and always insisted that you keep the game simple and pass on the floor to a player in the same color shirt. One of the best man managers of his era.
The second major influence for me has been Pep Guardiola for obvious reasons . He quite simply has inspired me to pursue this obsession of developing a team that can dominate games with the ball. I don’t know how many hours I have spent watching videos on Youtube, translating articles written in Spanish or Catalan in an attempt to discover the process of developing football perfection. He has altered my perception as to what is possible and that has excited me.
I am curious about the style of play Everton brings now and the level of success a rather mediocre team has had for years says about Moyes’ coaching ability. Many pundits applauded Moyes for keeping Everton middle of the road with the budget he had and now it seems United is a bit middle of the road vanilla while Mr. Martinez’s side plays with a certain panache. Makes one wonder and scratch their head.
but I digress. It is hard to argue with Pep as a mentor when it comes to coaching. I recognize Bayern has innumerable great players, but the style and absolute ease they are playing these days puts into relief how good a coach he is. At his level, just as a Murinho’s level, I believe the whole package is magnificent, but clearly the manner in which those two coaches psychologically connect with their players is artistic. I also think Caleb Porter is top notch. I watched Portland play quite often before he joined the Timbers and they had nowhere the quality that was displayed last year. Lastly I think these two men, the Kleibens, are certainly in the conversation for the way they can relate to us: the everyday in the trenches-workingclass-dreamer who-just so-happens to have-an idea about-the-way-this beautiful game is-supposed to be-played and-can help you-figure it out for-yourself philosophy.
I am a supporter of ideas & philosophies more than I am a supporter of clubs. That said, we all owe certain clubs a debt of gratitude for giving us the evolving blueprints for how to play the game. The answers are all there to be seen!
My roots as a coach run long as a devoted follower of Ajax. And while I understand that the birth of modern Ajax & modern tactics did was not created in a vacuum, my attraction to the game all come through clubs that have borrowed and stolen directly from Ajax. As a result, I typically cite Cruijff as my primary influence in the game. Ajax is the only club that I will ever call myself a supporter of; there the style has become ingrained over 50 years time. I have studied deeply Van Gaal through De Boer, even getting to study alongside Koeman & Blind a few years ago.
That, of course, led me to follow developments at Barcelona, which for many years has been “Ajax South”. Like most, I have developed a coaching crush on Pep.
Ten years ago my interest would have been Wenger & Arsenal. They have lost some luster for me, not because of their trophy drought, but more because a devolving style of play.
Over the last year I have become more attracted to Martinez. As for Rodgers & Liverpool, I’m not sure yet. I have wanted to like him and do enjoy the way Liverpool try to play, but every time I hear him speak he comes off to me as a bit insincere.
Finally, I have worshiped BIELSA since his 2010 stint with Chile! I’m infatuated with his mind and am hoping to see him get back in the game soon!
I learn most through watching, but only have limited time in my day to watch, so it is critical that I am selective with what teams I give my viewing time to. I won’t miss an Ajax or Barcelona match…I try to watch all Everton, Liverpool & Arsenal matches…and really wish I had a package to watch Bayern’s league matches.
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