Michael Beale’s former coach believes the Rangers boss cold lead England to World Cup glory one day - now he’s willing to put in the work.
Beale came through the ranks at Charlton when Terry Westley was heading up the Addicks youth academy. He recalls a talented left winger who would drift infield to get involved and had the ability to make it as a pro. However, Beale’s mentality was lacking and he was unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices to carve out a career in the game, which Record Sport columnist Chris Sutton recently reminded him he did’;t have.
But Westley sees that Beale is now dedicated to his profession as his talent shines through in the dugout. And he’s hinted that his former player could be destined for the very top of the game if he keeps it up - by leading his nation to the most prestigious prize in football.
“At Charlton, Michael was in a group of very talented boys — Scott Parker, Paul Konchesky, Jon Fortune and Kevin Lisbie were there,” Westley told the Scottish Sun.
“For Beale the game was too simple. He needed a rocket up his a*** time and again. He enjoyed all that went with being a young pro, and thought he could come back next day and be fine and be able to train and stuff.
“Speaking to Mick, I don’t think he’s got massive regrets. It’s more he knows what’s required now and he’s put all those things right. But he should have had a better playing career. I could give you a list of those ones though.
“When you were releasing players, you wouldn’t mark him down for not having enough ability. He was more down on the mentality not changing. It wasn’t getting better, the traits were getting worse as he got older. You hoped he would start to understand what he was missing at the next club, and that he’d need to put it right. But it never happened.
“You look at Declan Rice or Matthew Upson, Scott Parker too. Football was everything to them. They live and breathe it, every day. It’s about, ‘What I eat. When I go out. What I do’. Now Michael is doing that with his managerial career. It’s everything to him.
“It’s the detail he goes into on the opposition, set-plays, the style of play and recruitment. No stone is unturned.
"But at the same time, on reflection, he played wide left back then and had a lovely left foot. He was talented enough to realise if he stayed wide he’d have to rely on everything else to work out. The full-back might be kicking him, it may be hard to get the ball if someone doubled up on him. You’d see Mick naturally go inside the pitch and pick up a ball like a No 10.
“It’s easy to say now that only happened because of his understanding of the game and being ahead of the curve. Beale had a real thirst for knowledge and learning. He showed that desire which he maybe didn’t have as a player.
“Now I would call him a real scholar of the game over quite a long period. To go to Brazil is unusual. To move with Steven Gerrard? A bit unusual. To be a head coach in the Premier League at his age? A little unusual.
“If you look on his social media and the diagrams and sessions he planned in Brazil, it’s some outstanding work. It’s not a coincidence with where Beale’s gone and what he’s doing. A lot of people can talk about it, he’s dug into forensic detail. If you’ve real ambitions you say England manager — and I can see that nailed on.
“If he keeps going the way he is, that would be a realistic aim for him one day. He’ll be thinking in his head, ‘Why can’t England win the World Cup?’ ‘Why can’t it happen?’. He’ll be thinking he’s not too young to be a manager and put his thoughts across to players.”
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