STEVE Clarke’s extraordinary success since taking over at struggling Kilmarnock at the end of last year has taken the whole Scottish football aback and earned him awards and plaudits aplenty.
But leading the Rugby Park club away from the Ladbrokes Premiership relegation zone and into the top six last season and then taking them above Celtic and Rangers into first place in the top flight table this term pales in comparison with his achievements earlier in his career according to one of his distinguished former players.
Joe Cole, the 56-times capped England midfielder who worked under Clarke at Chelsea for five years, believes the Scot must accept much of the responsibility for getting the London club to the Champions League final back in in the 2007/08 campaign.
Clarke stayed on at Stamford Bridge after Jose Mourinho was sacked after a disappointing draw with Rosenborg early on that season and helped his replacement Avram Grant to quickly settle into the high-pressure position and enjoy considerable success.
Chelsea made it through to the final of Europe’s premier club competition thanks to victories over Olympiakos, Fenerbahce and Liverpool in the knockout rounds and they only lost a dramatic match against their English rivals in Moscow 6-5 on penalties.
Cole - who helped his side hold United to a 1-1 draw in regulation time before being replaced by Nicolas Anelka, who failed to convert the decisive penalty, in extra-time – doubts his side would have fared so well that term without the input of their assistant.
“It’s no surprise to me how well Clarkey has done at Kilmarnock,” he said. “I thought he did a good job as manager at West Brom. He was unlucky there. Sometimes success needs to be put into context.
“He learnt from working under Jose. Jose did most of the coaching at Chelsea when he was there and Steve would step in maybe 20 per cent of the time. But as the years went he took on more responsibility and when Jose moved on he was very important indeed.
“The year we got to the Champions League final, Steve was a massive influence. I hope he won’t mind me saying that, but he was.
“Avram (Grant) came in and took over a did a good job. That season we nearly won it all; we finished two points off top spot in the league, lost the League Cup final and we lost the Champions League final on penalties.
“Steve had a huge amount to do with that because it was such a tumultuous time for the club. Jose leaving left a big hole because he was such a massive personality. But Steve stepped up and ensured we stayed focused. I knew then that he would be a great manager one day.”
Cole, who won every honour in the English game during the seven seasons that he spent at Chelsea, was on the receiving end of some dressing downs by Clarke, but, looking back, appreciates they were for the benefit of the team.
The 37-year-old, who intends to follow his contemporaries Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry into coaching and possibly management in future, has not been shocked at all to see his old assistant manager galvanise a struggling group of players at Kilmarnock and turn them into one of the best sides in the country in the last 14 months.
“I can remember at Chelsea we were drawing a game at Manchester City,” he said. “Avram was very calm, but Steve felt we needed a rollicking. He stepped up and really gave it to us. We went on to win the game. He read the situation brilliantly. He has great footballing instincts. He knew what players needed. That stuck with me as a player. He was very, very good.
“He is a straight man. He will tell you how it is. He doesn’t waste his words. He is a tough guy, but he is a fair man and that is all you want as a player from a football manager. He is just a good football guy. He is very knowledgeable. I am really pleased he is doing so well.”
Cole, who brought his 20 year playing career to an end last month, will be coming to Scotland next month to play for England in the Star Sixes, a six-a-side tournament for legendary international footballers that is being held at the SSE Hydro, and is looking forward to the experience greatly.
He will team up with the likes of Wayne Bridge, Emile Heskey, David James, Michael Owen in the tournament and is determined to help his country triumph.
“I am looking forward to it,” he said. “There is a good quality of player involved and we are all still competitive. It is definitely going to be exciting. None of us want to go out there and not do well. We will be ready.
Star Sixes reunites the world’s greatest players in national team colours to renew old rivalries in six-a-side action.
It will be held at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow, from January 4 to 6. Tickets from £20/£10 at www.thessehydro.com
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