The Big Interview

In part two of my fascinating interview with Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass, we hear about how everyone goes on about ‘pressing’, but no side can truly pull it off for ninety minutes.

You’ll get the skinny on some of the great coaches Stephen has worked under or alongside: Roy Aitken at Aberdeen, Ruud Gullit at Newcastle, Gianluca Vialli at Watford, Tony Mowbray at Hibernian, Tata Martino at Atlanta. Stephen has hired the redoubtable Scott Brown as player-coach, and promises Dons fans will come to love the man they used to hate.

Stephen Glass might have been brought up as a Dundee United fan, but he gave everything as a player and gives everything as a manager to my beloved Aberdeen. Once, he even helped relegate United while wearing a red jersey.

Stephen learned his trade from coaches who had played during the Dandies’ golden age, but boy, it was a tough apprenticeship. Such were his talents that when at Newcastle, he was compared with Magpies legend Tony Green.

In part two of my riveting Big Interview with Aston Villa manager Dean Smith we hear about how he establishes the right culture by leading by example. He thrives on developing players, and consistency is his byword. All of this laid the groundwork for the incredible 7-2 destruction of then Premier League champions Liverpool in October 2020.

Thanks, Dean. That was special.

Graham

Dean Smith is a dyed-in-the-wool fan living the dream. As a youngster, the Aston Villa manager watched his club’s glory days from the Holte End when the European Cup was clinched and talents like Brian Little, Gary Shaw, Gordon ‘Sid’ Cowans, Andy Gray and Didier Six plied their trade. But the man he has just sold for £100million – Jack Grealish – rivals them all.

Enjoy.

Graham

Welcome to our Big Interview Icons series where we shine a light on a legend whose name has lit up some of the conversations I’ve had with my guests over the years. This episode focuses on Jose Mourinho.

Benni McCarthy’s tough time at Celta Vigo ended when Jose brought him to Porto. Benni saw the Portuguese as a father figure, and would have run through a brick wall for him. He repaid Mourinho by helping Porto win the Champions League. A mainstay of that side was Ricardo Carvalho, and Benni says Jose is the only boss the leftfield defender could have thrived under.

Line of Duty star Martin Compston was struck by Mourinho’s will to win even in a charity match. Despite being led astray for a night on the tiles by pal Greg McHugh, he absolutely loved his brief spell playing under the managerial legend.

Robert Huth remembers that when Mourinho arrived at Chelsea, he took training sessions to a new level. The Special One introduced an intensity and an attention to detail that fired the players’ imaginations.

Enjoy

Graham