Charlie: Tommy was ahead of his time, he shaped my view on game
CHARLIE MULGREW has taken his first steps into coaching at Hamilton Accies and revealed Celtic legend Tommy Burns has been a big influence on his management dream.
The 38-year-old was appointed new Under-18s coach at New Douglas Park last week and has now taken his first sessions with the crop of youngsters at Accies who are looking to make a name for themselves in the game.
Mulgrew knows just how the talented teens will feel, having been part of the Hoops setup looking to break into the first team when Burns was head of youth in Glasgow’s east end in the early 2000s.
The former stopper eventually launched his senior career away from Parkhead then returned to the club as Neil Lennon’s first signing in 2010, just a few years after Burns tragically passed away.
But Mulgrew says Burns’ influence as a youth is still with him today.
The former Scotland international, who has been joined at Accies in a coaching capacity by former Celtic goalkeeper Gordon Marshall, said: “I have learned a lot from every manager that I worked under. There was stuff I’d do, stuff I wouldn’t do and stuff I think could have been better.
“I was speaking to big Gordon the other day about Tommy and we both agreed he was ahead of his time. He was all about total soccer and playing football. He visited Ajax for 10 days back in the 1990s and came back with ideas of how to play the game.
“I remember when Martin O’Neill was manager at Celtic, Tommy was head of youth and he taught us a lot about the game and he was all about total football when it wasn’t really fashionable, so he really was ahead of his time when you look at the game now.
“I learned a lot from Tommy and he has been a big influence on me. All the experience and knowledge I’ve gained down the years makes me the person I am and how I see the game.”
Capped 44 times for Scotland, Mulgrew has Champions League with Celtic and can call on other spells in the Premiership with Aberdeen and Dundee United, as well as spells at Wolves, Wigan and Blackburn Rovers.
He’s also played under experienced campaigners in the dugout from Gordon Strachan to Tony Mowbray and Owen Coyle.
Mulgrew said: “What really stuck with me is being brave on the ball. That comes from a leader in the team. If the leader is brave, the players can then be brave.
“Hard work also goes a long way and that has to be the minimum.
“I also think putting the person before the player is important. Understanding the player first and what he is going through, being empathetic to his needs on and off the pitch, because if you get the best out of the person, you will get the best player on the pitch who wants to run for you, who wants to take the ball.
“Getting that trust, through being authentic, is a big thing.”
Mulgrew has loved it at Accies over the past week and said: “It’s been brilliant. I couldn’t wait to get started. Everyone has been brilliant and it’s been an enjoyable start.”