PART ONE - PLAYING & COACHING CAREER
Me - OK. Let's get the most important question out of the way first. We all know that you are from Liverpool but are you a Red or a Blue?
SD - Red! You can change your wife and your religion but not your team. I spent 1962 standing on a fruit box in the Anfield Road End, graduated to the Boys Pen in the Kop and then eventually to the Kop itself. I only stopped going when I went to University. I was privileged to be there for some great nights, Celtic, Inter Milan, St Etienne, Ajax and Bayern Munich. I loved every minute of it. I went to Anfield Road Primary School so I walked past the ground and touched it every day. If you are not a fan as a kid I don't think you can really make it in the game. It's a tough life and you need to be in love with football.
Me - Please can you tell me about your playing career and why, and when, you got into coaching?
SD - My career was halted by a severe lack of ability! I think I had a career that emulated Wenger, Benitez, Mourhino and Sacchi!! Not Peter Reid. I played for Liverpool and Lancashire schools (same team as Steve Coppell) and was chosen for an England Boys Club team. I was signed by Tranmere as a youth player. But even then I realised I was never going to make it big, so I went to Carnegie College and ended up with a degree in Educational Psychology and qualified as a Physical Education teacher.
Whist there I played semi pro. I actually got great money in the Liverpool Sunday League and it was a hard league! It paid more than my Saturday game in the Northern Premier League. I would have loved to have been a great player, but sadly not to be. I was just happy that people paid me to kick a ball around and travel the world for about 10 years.
Me - Who has been the biggest influence on your career/philosophy?
SD - Bill Shankly, my all time hero. I met him and he never let me down. A magnificent person who still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. However, I learnt how to coach from a university lecturer called Merv Beck. I admire Mourhino, Wenger and Lobanovsky - I would have loved to have met him.
Me - You obtained the UEFA A coaching Licence, long before such qualifications were commonplace in the game. Do you feel that the information you learnt on the course has helped you during your managerial/coaching career?
SD - I did my English Full badge (A Licence) when I was 24 and apparently was the third youngest to achieve it. But I also learnt a great deal on my FA Preliminary Course before that from Howard Wilkinson. I did my FIFA Instructors Course, with Sepp Blatter as one of the theoretical Instructors. Courses taught me how to organise and you also learn a great deal from the discussions that go on. I honestly believe you never stop learning as the game is always evolving, particularly in the physiological area.
For any football students I've just read the Inverted Pyramid, A History of Tactics by Wilson. A great read, highly recommended. Though I undertook a masters degree in Sports Admin I found it of little practical use, especially if the photocopier broke down! Two of the best management texts I have read are the Art of War and The Prince by Machiavelli, they have great relevance in football politics.
Me - How receptive have you found Asian clubs/players towards your coaching methods and ideas? Have you encountered any specific problems that you have had to overcome?
SD - Asian players are far more receptive to coaching than English players. There is less arrogance and a greater desire to improve. Most English lads just want to play a match. A strange factor, and I have no answer, is the loss of form for Malaysian lads after they marry. I thought it was a joke at first but it seems to be true.
Me - Do you feel that it is important for a foreign coach to learn some of the language of the country in which you are working? Does it help you gain the respect of the players?
SD - Learning a language is vital. A lot of football terms are similar, but under pressure a player needs to hear instructions in his first language, and also hearing praise in the players language is far more meaningful. Also trying to translate "bend your run" or "arrive late" are difficult concepts to get through if a player only has basic English. I now write coaching notes for all the Thai national team players and they are translated into Thai. This serves to ensure the players understand you and helps their English; as if they play abroad they will have to learn English.
Surat is an example, he will come back speaking better English, if not, he will struggle. The translator is a key person and has to understand football slang and Thai slang. I had one incident in Vietnam where I shouted get the ball to the far post, the players then started hitting balls at the corner flag! I looked at the translator and she said, "You said the furthest post. That one over there is the furthest post." Also she had great trouble translating an instruction to a defender of "F*&^g welly it!!" I speak Malay and Vietnamese as they are easy to read. I am finding Thai difficult as I cant read it and hence have to go by memory trial and error. And I'm getting older, so at the moment it's "beep" (squeeze), "ying"(shoot), "du bon" (watch the ball).
Me - You've been a coach in many South East Asian Countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. What are the differences in styles of play, and approach to the game in these countries?
SD - The Thais and the Viets are the toughest. I signed 3 Thais when I was at Home Utd where we got the to semi final of the AFC Cup, with a 16 man squad, and won the Singapore double. All three were top class pros and great athletes plus they were hard men and when it was tough they rose to the occasion. J.Surachai was a legend who should have played in Europe and Sutee Suksomkit is still playing for the national team. Sadly Anurak Sitterand had to retire with injury.
I sent Sutee to Chelsea in 2004 and they wanted to keep him and loan him to a Division1 team. Sadly he couldn't get a visa and his wife wouldn't let him marry an English girl! Also in my first game in SE Asia, for Johor FA, I saw this skinny kid on the wing for Perlis and thought who the hell is he?, we must sign him. What a player! It turned out to be Zico. And he was a great player! I also think he will be an excellent coach. There is great talent in the Thai coaching ranks, Tawan, Surachai and Zico all have the ability to go a long way in the game.
Me - Whilst you were manager of Perak, you said that betting on football matches should be legalised in Malaysia, to help combat match fixing. Has anything changed as a result of what you said?
SD - I received a great deal of criticism for that comment from the Islamic press. But the reality is that Muslims as well as Chinese and Indian players were betting on games. Illegal bookies were everywhere and the money was flowing into bookies hands and not back into the game. In the Singapore model the games are legally bet on and a percentage of the profits are ploughed back into the game. Why not do this in Malaysia and Thailand?
Both countries are gambling crazy and some of the profits could go back into the games and another percentage could go to help the poor or hospitals. I think we have to be realistic and not kid ourselves. Nobody should be made to bet, it's an individual choice based on their morals or religion but lets let society benefit rather than organised crime!
Me - Who is the best player you've ever worked with?
SD - Hamood Sultan the Bahrain Keeper in the late 70s was on a different planet. Santos of Brazil wanted him, but he didn't want to go. Another was Ned Zelic of Australia. He was just a 14 year old kid from Canberra when I started coaching him. He eventually went on to play in the Bundesliga, the EPL, the French League and in the Ukraine. He was a great player, a magnificent athlete and, like most great players, a really nice bloke. Others have included Bosnich, Viduka and Neill. I gave Brett Emerton his first pro contract and paid him in a year what he now gets for four days at Blackburn!
But the best two I have seen at close quarters in training and at games are Baresi at Milan, the player's player, and Maradona who doesn't play the same game as me!! Diego was a class apart and a hell of a nice bloke. I spent 2 weeks with the Argentina 1994 World Cup squad. Words cannot describe how good he was.
PART TWO - THE LAND OF SMILES
Me - Why do you think that Thai league football is enjoying such a boom?
SD - A number of inter related factors Higher standards of administration set by AFC and in turn FAT. This leads to professionalism Some very intelligent people at the clubs who are involved in marketing and behind the scenes. Small stadiums which, when packed, create a great atmosphere. Lots of fans who genuinely love the game and are well organized And finally, and very importantly, a media that supports the local players and doesn't abuse them and leech off the EPL. The press here are excellent in the support of the game and the websites! All these factors can't work in isolation. They must all gel together and at the moment it seems to be working.
Me - What do you think the Thai League needs to do in order to be more competitive, especially with regards to preparing clubs for the AFC Champions League & AFC Cup?
SD - Get quality foreigners. It makes more sense economically to have 2 top class foreigners rather than 5 average players. Also, I don't see the point of having a foreigner and leaving him on the bench. I feel foreign players should fall into one, or hopefully both, of the following categories: 1. A player than brings the crowds in 2. A player who is a good professional role model for young Thais. Ask yourself, are your clubs foreigners meeting this criteria? If not are they blocking the way of a young Thai, particularly strikers? I know the new AFC 3+1 rule is making Thais an exciting prospect for bigger Asian leagues.
Me - What sort of response do you get from fans when you visit the grounds?
SD - So far, a great response. People are generally very friendly. I've not been abused yet. A bit different from Malaysia where I was spat on, had bottles thrown at me and threatened. I was also attacked when I had my daughter in my arms. Some real low life follow football there. This is sad as there are many true genuine people. Maybe it's just a small percentage of huge crowds, but I haven't heard of any such incidents in Thailand.
Me - Do you get recognised when you go out? If so, what sort of reaction do you get?
SD - Not much in Thailand, but a great deal in Hanoi. ESPN helped a great deal. It can have advantages like getting in places, but I always have to be careful what I say or do in public, as I never know if somebody knows me. But certainly not as much as Peter does. He gets recognised everywhere. I just say I'm his translator-into English!
Me - How do the football facilities in Thailand, compare to other Asian Countries you have coached in?
SD - Facilities are my major gripe about SE Asia, including Singapore. You will not get good games on hard bumpy pitches. There is no excuse in SE Asia. You get plenty of rain and sunshine! I just believe its low standards and almost a lazy attitude to the concept of groundsmanship. In fact the only groundsman I have met was at Home Utd and we had a pitch like a bowling green. The fans should look at EPL pitches and see they are like carpets.
Liverpool complained (rightly) about the national Stadium, even that's nowhere near the standard it should or could be. It's even worse at lower levels and how can kids develop a great technique on awful pitches. Trips to Carrington and Melwood would make Thai players cry with the quality of training facilities. When the national team trained at the Aspire Complex in Doha the quality of our sessions rose massively thanks to the pitches.
Me - I'd like to know to what extent you and Peter have discussed discipline with the Thai players. Do you think that indiscipline and gamesmanship are serious problems that need addressing? And are they being addressed?
SD - It all depends on your definition of discipline. We are always trying to stop players fouling, not for any moral reason but set pieces can kill you. Look at the Vietnam Suzuki final and look at the damage Arthtit does for Chonburi. However, for off field discipline we have tried to generate a peer pressure or self discipline. It seems to be working and we've had no problems with national team players doing the wrong thing. If you treat players as men they usually react that way. It's a myth that angers me about indisciplined Thai players. They are better pros than many nations, and I include England in that.
I do agree with you about the time wasting in the TPL. I would just let play on and let the referee decide if a player is injured or not. Why should a team stop because someone has got cramp? I like your stretcher count (an occasional feature of my match reports)and would love to see that at "0" every week. We tell the national players to carry on, other teams will, so we have to get used to it. I'd even be tempted to yellow card players who make miraculous recoveries!
Me - Is it difficult for you and Peter to be responsible for the national team and the U23 team?
SD - No problems, it's just down to time management. We also have an excellent administrator, Thara Plucka-Oom, who organises everything for us. We love working with the players so it's great to have the chance to help their development. We are also trying to integrate the U19s into the SEA games squad so there is some ongoing development. There is so much talent here.
Me - Are you and Peter able to bring your own ideas and concepts in, to help the development of Thai football from the bottom, i.e. youth football? Do the FAT give you an opportunity to have input?
SD - The Thai FA have been great, they don't interfere in selection despite what people think and the President has always backed us to the hilt. He is determined for the national team to do well and knows the structure must be professional.
Me - Do you have ever have meetings for all the club coaches? Are you able to give guidance and advice to them re training methods, discipline, diet etc?
SD - We met all the Thai league coaches at a seminar and I produced a book for them. If this is capable of being produced on your website I would be delighted. Knowledge should be shared not hidden. (All the information that Steve gave me will be posted on the website in due course. It's essential reading).
Me - Whose idea was it to scour the world in search of players with "Thai blood"? And why do you think no-one has thought of this before?
SD - It's just common sense! Terry Butcher could have played for Singapore if they had done their homework in the 70s (he was born there). With inter marriage and mobile transient populations there must be talent in other countries. I am searching for players in USA and Australia with historical migration programs. But the Germans and the French have also done this, so it's common sense to get the best players. Even if it's only 1 player of quality, such as Peter Lange, then all the hard work and time on the computer is worth it.
Me - How good is the current Thai squad and what can it realistically achieve?
SD - Some of the youngsters coming through now will be very good players. There was a golden generation who were great and I believe that some of these new players can reach that level. And, with the better training programs we have now, will be better athletes than previous Thai players. The Thai team is no longer made up of slight young men. There are many great players here and they are improving with maturity. Peter Reid believes a number of them could play in the Championship (second tier of English football) and a couple have a good chance of making it in the EPL. However, the visa problem is always there. The national team needs to have 16 first eleven players if we are to get success, and that means World Cup qualification. It can be done.
I was in Australia when they laughed at the suggestion that an Australian team could qualify for the World Cup, and now it's nearly automatic. It needs long term development and stability off the pitch. Also our leading players have to go and play in the J and K Leagues in order to become mentally tougher.
Me - What has Promphong (Korat) got to do to get someone from the national squad staff up to take a look at him!? (26 goals from 16 starts now).
SD - We have looked at him, and we will look at him again in the Play Offs when the standard should go up a level. It's hard to be everywhere. I've been to over 60 matches this year, 3 games week and a few schools games. This includes mainly TPL, but also Queens Cup, FA Cup, AFC Cup and two division 1 games and a division 2 game. We also go to training sessions at clubs, especially if we know a good young player is only on the bench for a big club. This is understandable, as the coach must pick his best team. But for example going to Chonburi to watch training we spotted Suttinun, and he is going to be a great player. The reality is the best players should be playing in the TPL. If they want to be internationals that should be their goal.
PART THREE - "I WAS THE FIFTH BEATLE".
Me - Is the Liverpool reserve team player Stephen Darby a relative of yours?
SD - A few people have said he must be a long lost son!! But he's too good a player for that. Sadly he was sick for the Liverpool trip and I didn't get to meet him.
Me - Would you ever consider returning to England if the right job came up? Oldham manager perhaps?
SD - I'd have to consider it. Though Oldham might be the limit, especially having been through the district of Mumps a few times on the bus! I had a year at Sheffield Wednesday as Academy Director and, to be honest, didn't enjoy it. Bad pros (not all), 60-70 hour weeks, cold and paying too much tax! But if Liverpool or Man Utd came knocking!! I honestly would love to work in Italy. I spent a fortnight at AC Milan in the 90s and thought it was outstanding. Capello was the coach and he was magnificent.
Me - You seem to live & breathe football, what other interests do you have?
SD - The first part is right.I also love cricket and track and field, but any spare time I have now is reading, usually football books. You can learn a great deal from other codes; two great books are by basketball coaches Pat Riley and Phil Jackson, also Clive Woodward's diary of the Rugby World Cup win was a great exercise in coaching and management.
Me - A bowl of Scouse or a bowl of Somtam?
SD - Chip butties with vinegar and tomato sauce. Goes well with ice cold Australian Riesling!
Me - What are your favourite films?
SD - Being There, with Peter Sellers, Casablanca - I enjoy it every time I watch it (get on the plane, Humphrey!), Sophie's Choice - heartbreaking - and Blazing Saddles - I love movies that take the mickey. I also enjoyed a TV series called "Boys from the Blackstuff" by Alan Bleasedale (who was Peter Reid's first coach).
Me - What are your favourite bands and type of music?
SD - I'm Still stuck in the 70s Motown era.
Me - What are your favourite TV shows?
SD - Having a 4 year old daughter it's the Disney channel but if I get a chance to watch anything for myself, CSI and BBC documentaries.
Me - Do you have any Beatles or Jimmy Tarbuck stories that you can share with us?
SD - I knew Pete Best, the Beatles first drummer!! But The Beatles were before my time! Although when I played in the USA I often said I was Paul McCartney's cousin. It had its advantages!
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