JIM MCGUINNESS BELIEVES that soccer can learn a thing or two from Gaelic games.
Donegal’s 2012 All-Ireland winning manager now works as a performance consultant with Celtic FC in Glasgow, as well as helped to oversee the Scottish Premiership champions’ development squad.
McGuinness is of the opinion that there is a considerable overlap between the various sports at the top end, so much so he has discussed the matter of kick-outs with Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
“There’s a lot of crossover things,” McGuinness said on Monday night at Dublin’s Harcourt Hotel, where he was guest of honour at the Donegal Association Dublin.
“There might be things that I’m talking about and I know the boys might never have heard it. I’d a conversation before with Craig Gordon.
“Kick-outs are massive in Gaelic football – games are won and lost with the kick-out. In soccer, if you can’t get it short to build from the back then everyone goes into the middle and it’s about not conceding off it, but with us it was a platform for attack. That’s where most of the goals in this year’s championship are scored.
McGuinness is enjoying his time in Glasgow, having initially taken up his role in 2012 and is of the opinion that the huge link between Donegal and the Scottish city has made his employment smooth.
“It’s a global brand first of all but it’s a club that’s close to everyone’s hearts – particularly Donegal, where the connection with Glasgow has been so strong for generations. I met so many Glaswegians on the street and they tell me they follow the Donegal GAA team,” he added.
“They’re first or second generation. They love where they come from. the club itself is an incredible football club. It’s a dream come true in many respects to be working for the club. I was over there so many times as a supporter down through the years. The way things have happened is still a bit surreal but it’s happened and I’m enjoying every minute of it.
“With Celtic, it’s very challenging in a way because there’s so much going on and I’m learning so much. I’m there to do a job and work with one-on-one with the players and now I’m with the development squad.
“That’s a different dynamic – it’s almost like being back in the Donegal set-up when you’re training and working with players and trying to develop. That has given me a different slant.”
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