Jason Euell has been forced to bide his time and bite his tongue when it comes to climbing the coaching ladder but now his patience is now being rewarded with his new gig at Bristol City.
It was 11 years ago when his mate Chris Powell brought him back to Charlton as a player following his release from Blackpool at the age of 35.
His experience and personality were seen as crucial to help the Addicks bounce back from League One into the Championship which they did as Charlton secured 101 points to finish as champions.
For Euell, he had reached a minor crossroads in his career. He was told his contract at the Valley would not be renewed but there was the possibility to head into coaching with the club's Under-16 side.
There was still that itching desire to continue playing but Euell took the decision to hang up his boots because he didn't know whether that opportunity would still be around a couple of years down the line.
From then on, it's been a long and at times frustrating - albeit rewarding - road for Euell as he embarks on the latest chapter of his impressive career as first team coach of Bristol City.
Euell worked in the academy under the highly-respected Steve Avory at Charlton, where he would soon move to working among the U21s side. During this period, he was eager to pick the brains of Powell while also working alongside former Academy Director Paul Hart.
As is the natural progression of coaching, Euell set his target to reach the top which included becoming a manager in his own right. Speaking on the Coach's Voice, Euell said: "When I started the coaching process, it was about trying to get as high as I can. That’s exactly what I had wanted to do as a player, and I was fortunate enough to do that."
Like manager Nigel Pearson, Euell is a straight-talker noting that honesty is the best policy. He has picked up habits from the managers he has worked under during his playing days including the Bristol City boss.
"It’s those personality traits you take from certain managers," he would add. "With Ian Holloway, you see his enthusiasm and love for the game; with Terry Burton, the way he coaches and talks to you; with Nigel Pearson, his authority and ability to get to the point."
Euell would go on to work with Charlton's Under-23 side where he helped bring through the likes of Joe Gomez, Ademola Lookman and Joe Aribo. His reputation was growing as he not only developed his abilities as a coach, but also as a mentor, role model and advisor. All the personality traits needed to help bring through young, talented players and keep them grounded.
But while he had grafted for eight years in Charlton's development sides, also taking the role as England U20 coach in September 2019, Euell was waiting for his moment to work with the senior side.
The mess behind the scenes at Charlton certainly didn't help with Euell sitting back and watching new ownerships come and go and a conveyor belt of managers - 12 in total since he starting coach at the Valley. He also applied for the vacant Wimbledon job on two occassions but was unsuccessful.
The uncertainty in the dugout filtered down into the coaching and Euell felt his pathway to make the step up was blocked. It's even suggested he was advised to be cautious about making the jump to senior coaching until there was more stability among the ranks as managers and assistants kept coming and going.
Patience was a virtue but by April of last year, when owner Thomas Sandgaard appointed Ged Roddy as technical director, Euell was finally set to be handed his opportunity. Ged was determined to promote within the club and it came as music to the ears of the coach.
After Nigel Adkins was appointed, replacing Lee Bowyer, he approached Euell to become his first-team coach. He would tell South London Press: "One of the things Ged said was that, within his role, it would be looking to promote from within when the opportunity is there – similar to doing that with players. He said it was just as important with coaches.
“I told him that was brilliant to hear, because it had never been said before when there had been all the chopping and changing with managers. It’s not that you’re wishing for change to happen, but it was something to look forward to. It opens the door, so there is a pathway at the club."
When asked whether he was left frustrated over the lack of opportunities, he responded: "Massively, yeah. Without a doubt. This came at the right time for me – personally and professionally and I’m not afraid to say it.
“I was open for change. Did that stop me doing my job? No. That never stopped or lowered. I knew what my role was and my duty to the younger players who I worked with. I love doing what I do, whatever age group it is.
“The amount of time I was doing the U23s was probably longer than what I should’ve done. But knowing where you want to go and what you want to do, you still have to make sure that the time is right for that to happen."
That time is now. When Charlton appointed Johnnie Jackson, he brought Terry Skiverton to the club where the duo were effectively sharing similar roles as first-team coach.
Jackson would only last six months at the helm after the club ended the season in 13th place with Ben Garner coming in. Just two weeks later, in a small twist of fate, Jackson would be appointed Wimbledon manager bringing Skiverton with him.
For Euell, he knows how to be promoted as a player achieving it with Blackpool and Charlton while his vast experience of working with younger players will only hugely benefit City's crop of hugely talented players coming through the ranks such as Alex Scott, Ayman Benarous, Sam Bell and Tommy Conway.
On the other hand, he has done his hard graft and City will give him the platform to continue his progression. For that reason, it seems like a really smart match.
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