JASON McAteer caused a right old rumpus last month when he made some highly critical comments about his former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr during a Champions League broadcast on beIN Sports
The ex-Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland midfielder confessed that he had struggled to accept Kerr after the former youth coach, who had never played professionally, succeeded Mick McCarthy in 2003.
“I’ve got to admit, I’m looking at this fella and I’m thinking: ‘What have you actually done?’,” he told his fellow pundits Andy Gray and Nigel de Jong.
“’You’re trying to tell me to do this and that, but what have you won in the game? Where have you played? Who have you played for? And you’re trying to implement these things and talk down to players?’”
McAteer’s remarks drew a scathing response from many of his old team mates – Andy Reid quickly took to Twitter to stress that he and his contemporaries would have “run through brick walls” for Kerr – and he backtracked to a degree and offered an apology.
Still, the 52-times capped internationalist, who retired after making just one appearance in a friendly as a substitute for the former FAI technical director, did reiterate that he had “expected more” following the reigns of Jack Charlton and McCarthy.
“I had the privilege playing under Jack,” he said. “He was a World Cup winner and he had this unbelievable respect off the players. We all wanted to play for him. Mick was the same. He had been captain of Ireland and had had a great playing career. We had total respect for him. Kerr? I actually wondered what he was doing and how he got the job.”
There are numerous examples of celebrated managers who had either non-existent or undistinguished playing careers; Roy Hodgson, Gerard Houllier, Jose Mourinho, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Brendan Rodgers, Guy Roux, Arrigo Sacchi and Bill Struth all did alright for themselves.
David Martindale, whose well-documented route to the dugout has been unconventional to say the least, has worked wonders with Livingston since taking over two years ago and his team are currently sitting in third place in the cinch Premiership table.
Will Michael Beale, who moved into coaching after failing to establish himself as a footballer in his native England, Belgium and the United States, flourish at Rangers in the months ahead and justify his appointment? Or will his players eye him with disdain as he delivers his pre-match team talk due to his background? Time will tell.
Beale certainly came across well at his official unveiling at Ibrox on Thursday evening. He was comfortable in front of the television cameras and had no issues answering any of the questions which were directed at him. He was confident and articulate throughout the press conference. By all accounts, he is well liked and highly thought of by players.
Will he, though, have a credibility problem as a manager in his own right?
He has taken over in Govan after the reigns of Steven Gerrard and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, two Champions League winners. If the former Liverpool midfielder or Barcelona left back told a player their performance was not of an acceptable standard then none of them could argue. Will they take it from Beale?
He struck onlookers in midweek as someone who is not short of self-belief and who will have little difficulty making his presence felt on the training ground, in the dressing room and in the dugout.
Ultimately, it will all boil down to how much money Beale is given by directors to strengthen his squad in January and beyond.
Ange Postecoglou over at Celtic outspent his predecessor and reaped rich rewards from that domestically. He has several strong options in every area. His counterpart does not have one in certain positions just now.
Still, the ability to command the complete respect of your charges because of your past achievements in the game is not something which should be blithely dismissed.
The suggestion that first team coach Beale was the real mastermind behind Rangers’ historic 55th title triumph last year and Gerrard was simply a public figurehead is utter nonsense.
The former England captain instantly lifted the Ibrox club when he took over, lured players north who would not otherwise have considered such a move, made his side competitive at home and abroad, shouldered responsibility for myriad setbacks, disappointments and failures and finally delivered the silverware the fans craved.
His departure last November was not well received. His sacking at Aston Villa this season a few months after Beale had left and taken over at Queens Park Rangers did not reflect well on his abilities. But to denigrate his tenure at Rangers is disrespectful and wrong.
Michael Beale will be doing do very well indeed to emulate what his former colleague Steven Gerrard pulled off in Scotland and has to hope none of his squad members feel like Jason McAteer did about Brian Kerr when he dishing out instructions.
