Patrick Vieira has thanked three Manchester City staff members for helping him to make the leap into coaching.
Vieira ended a long and distinguished playing career at City, retiring in 2011. The combative midfielder instantly moved into a youth development role with the Blues, working alongside City Football Group's managing director of global football Brian Marwood.
From there, the Frenchman took on a role coaching City's EDS before a move to New York City FC and then Nice. Now manager of Crystal Palace, the 46-year-old has his side in mid-table.
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“First of all, I never really thought about being a manager,” Vieira told City's official website. “But finishing my career at Manchester City, I was surrounded by people who wanted me to bring my experience to the game. Garry Cooke at the time, Ferran Soriano now, Brian Marwood, they wanted me to stay at the football club and bring my experience.
“And through the journey, I went with Manchester City, I spent time in the academy and when the opportunity was there, they gave me the Under-21s for me to really understand if I really wanted to do that. That opportunity was really important because this is when I realised that going into coaching was something that would suit me and something I really wanted to do.”
Vieira is not the only former City player enjoying a bright start to life in management, with former Blues teammate and captain Vincent Kompany looking set to guide Burnley back to the Premier League. The Belgian took charge at Turf Moor last summer and has the Clarets 19 points clear of Middlesbrough in third.
Progression into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup has also set up a fairytale tie away to City, where he will come up against former boss Pep Guardiola. And Vieira insists the culture around the Etihad has helped players become managers.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence [Vincent and I are in management],” he added. “I think it’s the leadership of Vincent, the way he grew up at Manchester City. I think when you grow up in the football club as a player, you take responsibility as a captain, as a leader.
“And there is a belief, there is a confidence people from this football club give to those players and you can see what Vincent is doing at Burnley, but you can see some of the players on TV who have this kind of presence to express themselves and give their opinions.
“That’s why I think a football club has a big responsibility to develop those players and the people they have in a football club, not just on the field but off the field as well.”
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