Willie Go On

Leader Manager Coach Podcast

Rob is talking with Willie Donachie, who during his professional footballing career represented Scotland multiple times and was a regular in the Manchester City first team making 347 appearances during his time with the club. Willie has since gone on to be a successful coach working for numerous teams.

He is currently a youth coach at Accrington Stanley and also the manager of Montserrat Football team combining these roles with passion and a great deal of travel!

In this episode he shares with Rob the practical philosophy, inspiration, motivation and application of full attention that has led him on a fascinating professional journey, this podcast is a must for anyone who loves ‘the game' listen in and enjoy

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The beginning

Born in a single end in the Glasgow Gorbals the first son after 2 girls and in this horrible, terrible place I was brought up with the most incredible love.

If you get love at that age it puts you in good stead, I've been surrounded by it ever since.

You can only build on praise and encouragement.

Practical philosophy

I'm an advocate of practical philosophy - how you live your life every day.

When you start to become aware of what's in your head you realise much of it is judgement and criticism.

I realised I had spent my life on autopilot up until that point, to really listen to someone, to really taste your food, to really smell and touch is a different world.

Seeing things more objectively has helped me enormously in football as both a player and coach.

Love, attention and the moment

Being with the players and the kids is about now, being in the moment, everything prior is in the past.

The more you practice being in the moment the more it comes when you need it.

When you strike the ball perfectly it's effortless, you feel as if you are not even trying, It's not just a mental attitude it's everything, body, mindset and emotions all focused simultaneously.

The best description of love is ‘that it is to give full attention'

People think you have to try harder, run further, reach higher but it about giving full attention.

The key is to give your full attention to whatever you are doing then it becomes magical.

Einstein has said ‘either everything is a miracle or nothing is a miracle'

Everything is a miracle when you see it with full attention.

Our first 5 years are magical then school teaches us to do things in a mechanical way and not use the magic within.

Football

Learning to take responsibility for yourself and learning to still your mind and focus is a lifetimes work but you alone are in charge of your fate.

Football teaches kids to share, to work together to achieve and it teaches focus.

Even when times have been hard I've always enjoyed the job and as long as you learn from any experience you are moving forward.

The game is the teacher and you learn by playing, players still need advice and tips but there should be the freedom to play and express themselves creatively, it takes time and you can't force it.

In football today its important there is the right balance between playing and being taught,

It's got to be fun.

You can measure your success as a coach if the kids you coached are still playing when they are thirty whether it's professionally or for enjoyment kicking a ball about.

In your life do what you love and if you don't love it don't do it.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Football fans are people care about something bigger than themselves'

‘Anything can be artistic if you do it with full attention'

‘If you claim it you are stuck in your head again and you become small instead of a bigger thing that is free'

‘To go to Manchester where everyone was friendly and cared about you was like paradise to me'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Leader Manager Coach Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

Rob Ryles is a UEFA A licensed coach with a League Managers Association qualification and a science and medicine background. He has worked in the football industry in Europe, USA and Africa; at International, Premiership, League, Non-League and grassroots levels with both World Cup and European Championship experience.

Rob Ryles prides himself on having a forward-thinking and progressive approach to the game built through his own experience as well as lessons learned from a number of highly successful managers and coaches.

The Leader Manager Coach Podcast is where we take a deep dive examining knowledge, philosophies, wisdom and insight to help you lead, manage and coach in football, sport and life.

CONTACT METHOD

LMC Rob Ryles Website

LMC YouTube

Rob Ryles LinkedIn

LEARN MORE HERE Football, coach: https://www.patreon.com/robryles

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