Charlie Mulgrew is determined to realise his dream and become a manager in the future.
The 36-year-old recently took what could prove to be the first step on the ladder to doing just that by accepting a player-coach role with Dundee United. However, despite being capped 44 times by Scotland and winning stacks of silverware with Celtic, Mulgrew acknowledges he still has lots to learn before he is ready to consider moving into management.
Instead, he is determined to continue playing for as long as possible while learning the ropes at Tannadice under head coach Liam Fox and the rest of his backroom staff. Mulgrew said: “The club were actively looking for a first-team coach and the management spoke to me. It just snowballed from there really. It is probably a great time in my career as I feel I still have something to add on the pitch and off the pitch in that side of things. I am delighted to be given the opportunity.”
Mulgrew admitted it will take time to get the balance right between keeping himself ready to play while carrying out his new coaching duties. Mulgrew said: “Yes, it will. I dipped my toe in a wee bit just before the break and then I was getting into it last week but it has been difficult as we had triple sessions so that is the most difficult time.
"But I have managed to get one or two bits and pieces in. I just want to keep helping the manager get his message across and obviously add my part and my opinion - hopefully I can help.”
When he does finally hang up his boots, Mulgrew is determined to make it as a manager. Mulgrew said: “I do have ambitions for that in the future. But it is like starting a whole new career again.
“As much as you have been in the sport and have been an experienced player, there are still a lot of things you need to learn. I'm not daft enough to think there isn't. Hopefully that will come in the future but right now I need to put my hours in and learn from the manager and coaching staff here then go forward from that.”
Mulgrew made his long-awaited comeback from a niggling thigh injury on Saturday playing in the first half of United’s friendly with Swansea City at Tannadice. Russell Martin’s side won 2-0 thanks to goals from Jamie Paterson and Ryan Manning but Mulgrew was just delighted to be back on the pitch again for the first time since the Premiership clash with Rangers in September.
Mulgrew added: “It is good to be back as my last game was at Ibrox. It was a wee while ago so it was great to be on the pitch again, especially when you have heavy legs from the week we have just done. We have had triple sessions so to get through the 45 minutes was good. I played the full game at Ibrox and was totally fine the whole of the next week until the day before the game. I went to press somebody in training and I just felt something.
“I came back feeling completely fine but then I did the exact same thing again the day before a game. With every passing season, I just keep assessing my situation. I feel I still have something to offer and the day I don’t, I will call it a day. But right now, I feel I have something to offer.”
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