Nigel Pearson believes Andy King could one day be Bristol City manager, such is the level of the veteran midfielder’s football IQ and the early coaching skills he has displayed at the Robins High Performance Centre.
With his contract at City now expired, Bristol Live understands King is expected to sign fresh terms to remain a Robin for a second season in a player/coach role, although the 33-year-old wants to be foremost identified as a player, more so than a member of Pearson’s backroom staff.
If anything, titles are irrelevant though because since King first signed for City last summer - fulfilling a childhood dream having grown up a dedicated Robins fan - he has been a de facto coach on the training ground and during matchdays, mentoring and guiding younger players at the club.
His new position will cement that status but Pearson believes it’s just the start of what will be the next phase of his career as he winds down his playing days.
“It’s important that when we have talented football people in the building, we invest time in young players that we can see a future in, and it’s also important that we invest time in talented football people towards the end of their career,” Pearson said.
“So what do I mean by that? I think he’s got a future in the game as a coach and probably a manager. He’s here, he’s very keen to stay and, you never know, he might manage the club one day. Why not invest time in him? And he’s still got a lot to offer as a player as well.”
Having worked with King over six years with Leicester and the last 12 months at City, Pearson knows the strengths of the man’s character and the attributes he possesses that can be transferred into coaching.
There is also precedent for such a move with Pearson having kept Chris Powell as part of his staff as the former Charlton and Derby left-back’s career was coming to a close. Powell has since gone on to work in the England set-up in tandem with his role in Tottenham Hotspur’s academy.
During last Friday’s media day at the High Performance Centre, it was clear King’s natural instincts as a player are to guide and direct his teammates, taking time to speak specifically to certain individuals about the decisions they were making on and off the ball.
In the canteen after the morning session it was also notable he had the attention of a group of around five players, reviewing footage on a mobile phone of various passages of play.
The latest Robins Uncut also shows the Premier League winner in discussion with coach Alex Ball and fellow midfielder Matty James over an exercise around build-up play.
“He’s already a good coach as a player,” Pearson added. “He’s bright enough, he’s got the game understanding, he’s still ambitious - I think he’ll make a good manager.
“He’s remaining very much a player. He’s not getting changed into black kit. He wants to still play and that’s very important, and I still want him to play. I’ve done it before at other clubs - Chris Powell at Leicester, we made him a player/coach and Chris has had a really good career so far.
“I see it as being an opportunity to at least let talented players who, we think, can be talented coaches and managers explore the possibilities, without the real pressure of it being their first job. It’s just a sensible move for us as a club and for Kingy’s development I think it will be really, really good.”
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