On his way to an unbeaten season and winning the domestic treble in his first year in Scotland, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers spoke to UCFB about the importance of education for an aspiring coach, and gave students vital advice on succeeding in a career in the football and sport industry.
Speaking to UCFB from Celtic’s Lennoxtown training base, Rodgers said: “It’s (education) vitally important. There are lots of elements of teaching and coaching young players which require knowledge, and for you to gain that knowledge you need to go out and research and find it.”
The former Liverpool boss added: “If you’re going to be the very best that you can be then it’s very important that you can enrol on courses and that you can travel and find different ways to pick up this knowledge.”
Many students at UCFB are on sport coaching and physical education based subjects, such as BA (Hons) Sports Business & Coaching, BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management and BA (Hons) Physical Education.
The Ulsterman added that while education is essential for those who aspire to coach and are looking for their break into the football and sport industry, he believes that education must continue even once you have already made it as a coach.
Rodgers, who spent time in Spain as a young coach to learn other ways of working, added: “What you learn from experience is that you need to find a way in order to communicate with your players. I look to go and speak other languages in order to help people. I see it as part of my coaching.”
Asked for a final piece of advice for UCFB students looking for a career in the football and sport industry after graduating, Rodgers said: “Have a real belief in yourself. Be ready to work hard. If you’re going to reach the very top there’s a lot of work in it, there are no shortcuts.”
