Hi guys, I managed to get an interview with Mark for my site, and thought I'd stick it up on here for those of you who may be interested. It talks about his current role, his time at Saints and Youth Development at Saints, in the UK, and in Europe. Link: http://connorarmstrong.blogspot.com/2012/02/exclusive-interview-with-mark-wotte.html Feel free to offer feedback.
Eriksen might have given Morgan a run for his money in the centre! Thanks for that DTLW, very interesting.
I had the fortuity to get the chance to have a chat with SFA Performance Director Mark Wotte this week after a week or so of messages sent back and forth between myself, Mr Wotte and the SFA. Wotte, who managed Southampton back in 2009 after replacing fellow Dutchman Jan Poortvliet, took the helm at a particularly tough time for Southampton Football Club. Hampered by the off-pitch issues, Wotte attempted to steer the club away from relegation, and it almost went right to the wire. Points deductions came and the club eventually found a new owner in the form of Markus Liebherr. Wotte's days were numbered as the day after the takeover the club announced that Saints and Wotte had gone their separate ways. Since leaving the club Wotte has held a few other roles and is currently Scotland's Performance Director. So what did he have to say for himself? Connor: Hi Mark, what have you been up to since leaving Southampton? Mark: After I left Saints, I spent 6 months in Romania at Universitatea Craiova and kept them in the Premier League, but money problems (again) made me leave the club. Then I joined Egyptian Premier League Club Ismaily SC, one of the 3 top clubs in Egypt. We had a good run but the Revolution was the end of League Football for 3 months so I left to join the Scottish FA in July as Performance Director. Connor: What is your current role at the SFA and what do you do? Mark: I am responsible for Elite Youth Player Development: National Youth Teams U21 / U19 / U17 and the Victory Shield Group U15. Also, I am responsible for Women's Football and Elite Referee Development but I have fully delegated this to other peoples so I can focus on a strategy to improve the overall level of Elite Youth Development. Connor: Do you think Scotland can reach World Cup 2014/Euro 2016? Mark: We were very close with Scotland to qualify for the European Championship Play-Offs for 2012, a bit unlucky, but with more and more players playing in the English Premier League and Championship, we are improving the level of the squad. We have a competitive group with Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Macedonia and Wales so anything is possible. Connor: Do you feel that current British approaches to youth player development are wrong in some aspects? Mark: The Home Nations in general should leave the 4-4-2 formation as the general formation to develop kids as nowadays in Europe there isn't any team having success with this system, only if you play 4-4-2 in a diamond. Also to develop players you must secure that they enjoy playing the game whether it is 4 vs 4, 7 vs 7 or 11 vs 11. If you treat them like grown-ups or bully them, they will drop out quicker. To develop kids is about drilling the skills and training the brain, so the essential basic technical skills have to 'teached' but consequently tell them also when to use these skills. Physicial development will come naturally if you play every day best vs best football, and starting from 16 years old you can start developing more on the physical side, but focus on speed, agility and being explosive in football situations. Weight training should only be very specific and like a pre-hab or re-hab program. Connor: Southampton are obviously a club with a strong academy and a club which you managed, what were your thoughts on the academy at Southampton? Mark: Thanks to the likes of Huw Jennings, Malcolm Alias and Stewart Henderson I think the Saints Academy have produced unbelievable footballers, also those who ran the The Lodge for a full-time off-the-pitch development did great work. Connor: You came to Southampton with Jan Poortvliet, how do you both feel about Saints and what went on while you were there? Mark: I had never worked with Jan before joining Southampton, but he is a nice guy with great player experience. I was sad that he left, but I could understand the situation and the decision to be make a change. Connor: It is said that your job was made difficult? How was it working for Rupert Lowe? Mark: Rupert was great to work for, he was always supportive. But I made it very clear to him that he could never influence my decisions, he respected that. Connor: Did you enjoy your time at Southampton? Do you have any regrets? Mark: Yes I did. I guess the only disappointment was that we couldn't sign Christian Eriksen (now at Ajax) at the age of 16 when we had the chance after I spotted him. Also going into Administration was a big blow. The 2nd of April I think it was and we were having a great run, and a decent programme to escape relegation! I remember the dressing room was devastated that day! Connor: Who most impressed you at Southampton with their ability as a player? Mark: I rate Adam Lallana and Morgan Schneiderlin as great young players. Their intelligence and skills will make them Premier League players eventually. Connor: Do you still look for Southampton's results? If so, what do you think of how the club is doing? Mark: I follow Saints every match and I am pleased they came back to the Championship! I truly hope they will have a back-to-back promotion to the Premier League, that would be sensational! Connor: You left Southampton very soon after the takeover, and you seemed pretty sure you would be staying, what happened? Were assurances broken? Do you feel bad about the way it ended? Mark: Saints have been treating me accordingly to my contract and I bear no grudge. I only Thought that it was very strange to bring in a new manager so late in pre-season and it was one of the reasons they started the season terribly. Connor: How did you find Markus Liebherr and Nicola Cortese to be? Mark: Mr. Cortese was advised by some people I don't really appreciate, but that's Football. I Just take it on the chin and move on. Connor: Finally, what words do you want to say to the Southampton fans? Mark: All the best and good luck with Southampton Football Club at beautiful St Mary's!
I always liked Wotte, spoke well, and always tried - remember he worked his socks off all summer without a contract
Cheers Adam, good read to. Eriksen goes on with Micah Richards who we couldn't get because we where in the **** at the time too.
Always thought he was a nice guy. Us going down that season was hardly his fault, and I'm really pleased to see him doing well
Consigned to the toilet bowl of history. Old news about uninteresting people at a time when the club was being taken up the jacksie by various scumbags. Move on. Nothing to see here.
Wotte was far more competent than Portalloo, and if that is true about Eriksen that is a huge shock, and it would've been interesting to see how we'd have done with him.... Ah well. Not like we're lacking in the good young centre midfielder department
Christ CBK, whilst I agree with some of it, a bit of overkill there on my article haha, you do know we won today right?
