Bit surprised by this, he's still got a season in him at league one. Glad though, he's a great bloke to have around.
Wonder what he has been doing apart from playing to get the job. It would be expected that a under 21 role would come with some hefty qualifications.
More players of his commitment credo are needed all across the game and he will do a great job with the younger players given his background and just being a good community person to boot.
It is all about knowing when to move to a different sphere and Wade is clearly one who is now looking longer term rather than one more year at the end of his playing career. From everything I have heard about him, I am very pleased for the Club that he will still be here next season.
great news for Bristol City Wade is a class act, and having been Cotteril's skipper is well versed in turning the man's will into action, both on and off the pitch. Yes he will be missed on it, but the job he inherits is a big and important one. A future successor to Cotts perhaps ?
Yes but the cv required even to make the step up from an under fourteen academy coach to under fifteen is different. To take over a under 21's role means his background has to be already weighty, He must have been doing a significant amount of coaching to be licensed/qualified.
He would be required to have attained (or be attaining) FA level 3 coaching ability (UEFA B badge).. professionals are fast tracked to this course and would not need to undertake the previous levels although he may have done some preliminary courses.
Perhaps he thought that he was one day going into management so started doing the courses years ago. To be honest if any footballer entering their early thirties didn't think about the future then they're stupid. Bit like not starting a pension until you're in your forties, for us mortals. We all think about the future. So I doubt he didn't wake up season end and thought I might take those badges now.
Which requires previous coaching experience in the form of evidenced coaching hours. And that is good to hear, but as a coach [ level two mortal] and the parent of a child playing at academy level [not City] I would like to hear more of how he has got so quickly to where he is in a non paying role. I admire those who achieve this level of qualification. It is not easy and requires single minded dedication, many of us including non Professional footballers could not do it.
Professionals are fast tracked to this course so it won't. "Now you’re a top qualified coach, what can you do? Experienced professionals can be fast tracked to Level 3, so you should be in good company. In the professional game, coaches are expected to have at least the UEFA ‘B’ Licence, so if you have gained this qualification you should be looking at coaching at a fairly high standard"
The history of the game is littered with examples of top professionals who suddenly become top managers. Had Giggs achieved all his coaching badges or done the hours to become manager of Manchester United ? Or Dalglish, or Klinsman, Cruyft etc maybe Or maybe its recognised that a top professional player has experience that non players do not have. You can't teach someone to play the piano if you can't play it yourself
The PFA course is different. As I said I would expect anybody to be coaching at that level to have hefty qualification including 1 - 2 - 1 hours. One of my sons coaches has fifteen coaching years experience at a Premier league club and a EUFA pro licence [ EUFA.s highest qualification]. Giggs may have not as he was in charge temporarily!
You would have to ask him! My son also went through a full time football academy and had level 1 & 2 by the time he was 19, so I am sure Wade has had plenty of time to do it.
My son also went through a full time football academy and had level 1 & 2 by the time he was 19 .. Which is something my I hope my son considers as the start of another long term option. You would have to ask him ... I am acquainted with one of City's academy coaches I might ask him how things and being structured and why.
Fair play to him. I would've liked to see him at least be registered as a player for the season, even if it means he only comes on if we need a player, but I'll take this! My only worry is that he'll be joining an academy system that doesn't really have a lot to show for itself. In League 1 we only produced a single player capable of playing at that level. At Championship level I'd be surprised if anyone makes it out of the academy, and as U21 manager I imagine you'd want a sense of value in your job. I'm hoping that his experience in the first team will help players that are on the cusp of achieving first-team football from being able to step up.
