CO ADRIAANSE, one of Dutch football's most experienced managers, was at Hampden this week to give a seminar to Scotland's top coaches.
The 65-year-old gave an invaluable insight into the legendary Ajax academy, where he worked for five years, to a captivated audience at the Scottish FA's latest coaching convention. Adriaanse has an impressive CV, incorporating two spells with the Amsterdam club, as academy director and head coach, as well as stints with Willem II, AZ Alkmaar, Porto and Red Bull Salzburg.
He provided a masterclass in management techniques and also took part in a question and answer session with an audience that included Billy Stark, interim coach of the Scottish national team; Ally McCoist and his Rangers backroom team, Chris McCart, Celtic's head of youth and his team; Kenny Shiels, the Kilmarnock manager; Stuart McCall and Kenny Black of Motherwell, and representatives from all of Scotland's performance teams.
He then joked that he wondered if there was any need for his presence in the light of Celtic's Champions League victory over Barcelona.
Adriaanse's presentation revolved around his TIPS philosophy. "Technique is the most important quality of all," he said. "It is what Ajax focus on from the age of eight, when players first come into the system. Intelligence is also hugely important. It happens over time but at Ajax, it was Rinus Michels who developed Total Football. For example, a right-sided defender can also play left attacker and by trying out those positions he can then understand his own position more and be versatile enough to play many positions.
"Of course, Rinus was helped by having Johan Cruyff on the field, arguably the most intelligent footballer of all. Personality, or psyche, is also key: in Holland we have had many players who were good players, but did not have the right psyche, and did not become great players. The right personality, the right psyche, can be the difference between a good player and a great one.
"Speed and strength are the final parts of the TIPS philosophy. Maybe years ago you could be a great player without speed and strength but not now. Take Yaya Toure of Manchester City: he has great technique, is a very intelligent footballer and has the right psyche. He is also very strong. Today, you need to have all these attributes."
Adriaanse also discussed the "bootroom" mentality that remains fundamental to the Ajax system, with Frank de Boer, the head coach, operating at the top of a coaching pyramid that includes a host of Ajax alumni: Dennis Bergkamp, Jaap Stam, Marc Overmars, Edwin van der Sar, Wim Jonk, and Brian Roy.
"It is very important that at all levels you have coaches who are specialists in their areas: van der Sar is not only a great goalkeeper but can pass from defence," Adriaanse said. "Overmars and Roy have the skills to impart, Jaap Stam was a terrific defender, and Bergkamp has great balance and technique."
Adriaanse endorsed the Scottish Football Assocition's performance strategy, overseen by his countryman, Mark Wotte. "When I watched Celtic's performance and result on Wednesday, I wondered if there was any need for me to come over and speak any more," Adriaanse said. "That result shows what can be possible with the right spirit, the right motivation from the manager and the right execution from the players. It has shown that Scottish football is still able to compete.
"I have been involved in coaching for 30 years and remember the great Scottish sides and Scottish players from the 1960s and 70s. Things have maybe taken a downturn since then but with the performance strategy and with results like Celtic's, it shows the situation can always improve. You can also see with Rangers, who are attracting more than 40,000 fans in the third division, that the passion is alive and well in Scotland."
Wotte was grateful for Adriaanse's attendance. "He is one of the most experienced coaches in Dutch football and I was delighted he could share his journey with Scotland's best coaches," Wotte said. "He is a very passionate coach and was a pioneer, inventing the Christmas Tree formation of 4-3-2-1.
"The Scottish FA Performance Strategy is all about creating and developing a culture, The Scotland Way, and we are committed to doing that in a 4-3-3 formation. Ajax have their own philosophy and while we want to establish ours, through the regional performance schools and our national youth teams, it helps to have a better understanding of the best philosophies around."
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