The Denis Smith Interview Part 2 - Management

Leader Manager Coach Podcast

The second instalment of this two-part interview with The legendary Denis Smith who played over 400 games of football in his career and who went on to be the manager of renowned football clubs such as York and Oxford United. Today they discuss the importance of getting to know your colleagues and players, how to make it as a manager or coach and why you should always believe in yourself.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• No matter how much homework you do, you don't know the person until you work with them. When you start working with them you can begin to blend the way they do things in with the way that you do things. Sometimes it may not work but this could be due to personal problems that they bring into work that you have to understand and work through.
• Aspiring young coaches should smile and enjoy their role as it is a very rare opportunity that many people would love to have.
• In your football career, not everything is going to go right for you and there will be obstacles along the way as football is a dog eat dog world. There are 92 big jobs out there so it is a very limited market but you have got to prove that you are good enough.
• There are many times where clubs and players do not get given the right opportunities. You have got to go in with an open mind and look at them individually. Do not just believe someone is hopeless because of their reputation, have a look yourself and get to know them as people. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of their character.

BEST MOMENTS

“It was right for the club and I had to try and keep the club afloat.”

“That is a lesson in itself.”

“His attitude was first class.”

“If you can get an opportunity anywhere, don't think that you are better than that.”

ABOUT THE GUEST

Denis Smith is of a rare breed. Someone who was virtually a one-club legend for his home town club Stoke City playing over 400 games in a career that earned him the label as ‘The hardest man in football'. He later went on to become a member of another illustrious club. That of the 1000 club for managers who have managed over one thousand first-class games, joining the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson. He is still currently active in the game with amongst other things serving his local community and club being a well-loved media personality.

ABOUT THE HOST

Rob Ryles is a UEFA licensed coach with a League Managers Association qualification and a science and medicine background. He has worked in the football industry in Europe, the USA, and Africa; at International, Premiership, League, Non-League and grassroots levels with both World Cup and European Championship experience.

Rob Ryles prides himself on having a forward-thinking and progressive approach to the game built through his own experience as well as lessons learned from several highly successful managers and coaches.

The Leader Manager Coach Podcast is where we take a deep dive examining knowledge, philosophies, wisdom and insight to help you lead, manage and coach in football, sport and life.

CONTACT METHOD

https://www.robryles.co.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMPYDVzZVnA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertryles/?originalSubdomain=uk

LEARN MORE HERE Football, coach: https://www.patreon.com/robryles

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