The FA need 'THE' or 'A' René Meulensteen

This week sees the departure of Rene Meulensteen from Manchester United.

Rene is a coach that always fascinated me. 10 Years ago I was coaching and working with some young players at Luton Town. So on the look out for inspiration I found this video. Manchester United The Official Skills Series. I recall being hooked on his knowledge and attention to detail but most of all his manner with the kids. A skill I learnt from, clear demonstrations and open happy approach. Later in my career I was lucky to go to Carrington several times and most recently a couple of years ago I was scheduled for a meeting with all the 1st team staff. This included Rene. No 'big-time' he came and said hello, ask what I did and where I worked. Wow, that doesn't happen often in football. When I told him I was a keen coach and had been for many years mentioning the clubs where I worked he proceeded to tell me loads. Even though it was five minutes. I just shut up (unusually) and listened. He spoke about the 'Man Utd' way and their approach to games. I think I learnt more in that 5 minutes than I had learnt in years. Very inspirational and I use that knowledge gained now at QPR.

The other thing that stood out was his manner, just like I recalled in the video. It clearly wasn't an act, he is a gentleman. approachable, easy going and so knowledgeable. His manner with the players was also a lesson. 2 Youth players came into the room and immediately apologised. "Not a problem, what do you want", he didn't bark at them, he spoke to them with respect. They asked if they could train more, practise free kick. "No problem chaps, organise keepers if you like and please make sure you let the kit lady know so the kit is done". This clearly isn't the dictatorship Ive seen at some clubs. Young people treated with respect, show respect and a nice place to work for everybody. 

It still seem surreal that Sir Alex Ferguson wont be the Manchester United manager and now understandably David Moyes will bring in his own staff. But at the expense of people like Rene who had such an influence on this successful era, most of which way down the age groups in the Academy. So, to remind me what a good guy this is I watched the video again. It just seems so far away from other clubs. Yeah I know the point is to make a video for sale. Man Utd know how to make money of course. But it doesn't seem that wooden. He wants to show various skills and is happy to work with the then 1st team players and they seem happy to oblige. There is a family feel about it including Sir Alex candidly telling a young lad to get his hair cut with a hand on his shoulder for reassurance. 

Various players talk about their speciality to the players whilst Rene carefully guides them through the key coaching points without the players even realising. They to are getting there first coaching lesson and they don't even know it. But he guides them to then point so the players get the message from their hero. 

Rene is clearly not starstruck either as he ensures he gets the most of the players, who equally seem to have mutual respect for him. How many first teams does that now happen? Bearing in mind at this point he was the skills development coach!

Interestingly the players albeit mostly purchased from elsewhere also seem to know the Man Utd way. As they talk about what is required in the various roles and skills required in those positions. The green light to express yourself in the final third is also re-enforced. 

The image of Ruud Van Nistelrooy is saying well done to a little Danny Welbeck. He had just done a skill and scored but prior to that he got it wrong. Ruud was quick tell him that mistakes are part of it. But let it go and straight away, try again. An ethos the FA now spend fortunes through youth modules trying to educate coaches across the country to adopt. 

I recently seen the video of Rene coaching the 1st team and talking about combination play and working out clever ways they can break down the next weeks opposition. This was consistent with what he told me about putting players where they can get results against certain opposition based on their analysis. Then I think about where he came from, through the ranks at Manchester United just like the players do and I think three things. 

1. Will that ever happen again now at clubs? SAF listened to a recommendation to bring him in initially then after seeing his assistants learn there trades and go off in pursuit of there own managerial careers he looked within his own club for a great coach and got one. 

2. David Moyes looks like a man of the same mould, I hope he knows that Man Utd way and ensures the staff are not just great coaches and support staff, but also great people, who care about ALL players development and not personal gain.
3. The FA should be absolutely busting the bank to give Rene the highest possible coaching position where he can influence this countries future. English football has been criticised heavily recently but believe it or not the game has taken huge challenging leaps thanks to people like Nick Levett. The Academy system is also on the whole promoting football to help us compete on a technical level in the future. If Rene was the top football development man in the FA, it would be a massive positive influence and help all the coaches that face that challenge at ground level.

Tony McCool