The Welsh Way - Inside the 'Harvard of coaching'

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Gael Clichy puts connected his virtual reality headset, gets up and walks astir nan room, nan erstwhile Arsenal and Manchester City defender observant not to bump into two-time World Cup victor Brandi Chastain, who is wearing nan aforesaid cogwheel and trying to fig retired really champion to antagonistic Brighton's press.

Yohan Cabaye, nan ex-France and Newcastle midfielder, searches for a solution connected nan different broadside of nan room, wherever Stoke's sporting head Jonathan Walters is pondering his adjacent move.

Welcome to nan Celtic Manor edifice adjacent Newport, wherever nan Football Association of Wales is holding immoderate of its last sessions for nan sport's highest coaching qualification, nan Uefa Pro Licence.

This is what you request to negociate astatine nan apical level, and this peculiar people attracts immoderate of football's biggest names, arsenic illustrated by a database of graduates that includes Thierry Henry, Yaya Toure, Roberto Martinez and Mikel Arteta.

The existent harvest are arsenic divers arsenic they are recognisable, from erstwhile Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool midfielder Nuri Sahin to Wales head Rhian Wilkinson, and from Caernarfon Town leader Richard Davies to his caller friend, Nice skipper and Brazil world Dante.

Thrown together 2 years ago, this group now "feels for illustration a family", says Dante.

Having completed their B and A Licences, nan people of 2025 are entering nan closing stages of their Pro Licence and fresh to return nan adjacent measurement connected their burgeoning coaching journeys.

Granted uncommon and unlimited access, BBC Sport takes you down nan scenes connected nan people Sahin describes arsenic nan "Harvard for coaching".

Having played and managed successful nan Champions League pinch nan likes of Real Madrid and Dortmund, ex-Turkey world Sahin feels astatine location successful elite shot surroundings.

He besides has acquisition of world-leading acquisition institutions, having studied sports guidance astatine Harvard Business School.

So erstwhile Sahin assesses nan FAW's Pro Licence course, it comes from a spot of authority.

"I've learned truthful much," he says. "This will hole maine not only for my coaching profession but nan remainder of my life.

"I had this erstwhile I was successful Harvard, and this is for illustration Harvard for coaching.

"I've enjoyed each infinitesimal connected this course, pinch these people. It feels typical here. We've created a enslaved and I cognize we will beryllium a group who will beryllium connected for nan remainder of our lives."

This is simply a rigorous course, which requires candidates to perpetrate to agelong hours, some astatine location – which could beryllium anyplace successful nan world – and during their interaction periods pinch nan FAW.

During this extended play successful May, they are required to do applicable tests and training sessions connected nan transportation astatine Dragon Park successful Newport, while activity astatine nan adjacent Celtic Manor includes nan aforementioned virtual reality seminars, tactical mentation tasks and individual presentations.

"I made my typical study astir nan All Blacks," Sahin says. "For maine it was important to study a squad not successful football, astir nan civilization and surviving nan culture. They are nan champion illustration of this and I person nary hint astir rugby.

"What I learned is nan civilization and protecting nan country, nan jersey, nan values, being bully people. I want to triumph pinch bully people."

While nan shot knowledge required is extended – and nan method item granular – candidates are often taken retired of their comfortableness area connected this course.

"We went connected a travel to activity pinch nan service for 3 days wherever they deprived america of slumber and we had to do missions being ace tired," says Clichy, a personnel of Arsenal's Invincibles of 2004.

"The nutrient we had was successful very mini portions and you realise that you're affected by this, really you make a determination related to football.

"You could beryllium successful a very important game, you're losing 2-0, you had a scheme during nan full week and past you find yourself behind, really do you header pinch it? So that was a different measurement for america to study really to woody pinch pressure."

Tasks specified arsenic moving pinch nan service are levellers for this group.

Whether you person already played astatine nan highest level, aliases managed semi-professional teams, location is simply a striking consciousness of equality here.

"People for illustration to perceive stories astir Pep [Guardiola] and Arsene Wenger but I'm aiming to beryllium a apical coach," says Clichy.

"I cognize there's a large chance that I'm going to beryllium starting astatine a little level. And these guys, who started successful amateur shot and been successful a occupation for nan past 20 years, person sewage a batch to connection maine because what I know, my career, is astir apt 3 aliases 5% of what shot is.

"It's not existent football, playing 20 positive years successful a nine for illustration Arsenal and City. It's rare, and you person to understand it. So arsenic a coach, if I'm fortunate to commencement and to get location 1 day, that would beryllium fantastic. But I cognize I'll person to commencement astatine nan bottommost and these guys tin show maine really it is."

In a practical, footballing sense, location are countless valuable lessons these group tin study from each other.

On a much quality level, nan acquisition has been profound.

"Around nan first mates of days, past March aliases April erstwhile we started nan course, we had to do a position astir nan 4 Hs, pinch your 4 Hs being your history, your heartache, your heroes and your hopes," says Adie Harvey, who coaches Wales Under-16s boys.

"Everyone had to present that to nan group, which was rather daunting really, pinch nan level of expertise of group successful nan group. But it conscionable flattened immoderate level aliases ego among nan group, and it really connected us.

"I took monolithic spot from listening to others and what they've gone through. We've each gone done immoderate type of calamity aliases heartache, truthful that really connected each of america and provided truthful overmuch spot for america arsenic a cohort."

The consequence is that these are much than conscionable moving relationships, but existent friendships.

"It feels for illustration a family truthful we'll decidedly support successful touch," says Davies, whose Caernarfon broadside are a semi-professional squad successful nan Cymru Premier, Wales' apical flight.

"We are for illustration a family," Dante agrees. "We study together, we do everything together.

"Richard is passionate. I was amazed to spot nan emotion he speaks with, and I deliberation each coach needs this emotion inside."

Stood adjacent to nan towering erstwhile Bayern Munich defender, Davies adds: "For me, it's nan knowledge Dante has. He's still playing astatine nan highest level and what he's achieved successful nan crippled is unbelievable.

"To beryllium capable to person these conversations and pat into his mindset, really he sees nan game, is truthful valuable for me. We're talking astir personification who's managing successful nan Welsh Prem moving pinch personification who's played successful nan Champions League and World Cup. Without this course, I'd ne'er travel crossed group for illustration Dante."

These are enduring bonds which transcend football's earthy order, arsenic people graduates person demonstrated, pinch erstwhile Newport head Mike Flynn still successful a WhatsApp group pinch Henry and Arsenal leader Mikel Arteta.

While astir present are only starting their coaching journeys, others are already fully-fledged managers.

One of those, Wales women's leader Rhian Wilkinson, is juggling her studies pinch preparations for this summer's Euros.

"It's a batch but I ne'er want to miss these. Firstly, catching up pinch group but, equally, that excitement astir learning. You ne'er extremity learning," Wilkinson says.

"Someone will opportunity 'Well, Pep utilized to do this' aliases 'Jurgen Klopp would do this' and past you've sewage Brandi Chastain present arsenic well. This is wherever we're moving things pinch nan FAW.

"This is an situation wherever apical men successful nan crippled want to travel and study but arsenic this has to beryllium thing that we commencement looking much earnestly astatine pinch nan women. This is simply a awesome measurement for nan women's game.

"We can't lie. This is simply a very male-dominated athletics and career. It is what it is. It's portion of my occupation to make judge I proceed to effort and forge a way aliases show examples of women who tin person a profession successful nan game. And I tin only do that because of women for illustration Brandi Chastain, who did it earlier me."

Chastain's beingness is simply a existent fillip for nan course. With 2 World Cups and 2 Olympic golden medals to her name, nan 192-cap erstwhile United States world is 1 of nan astir recognisable faces successful nan women's game.

As good arsenic delivering a reside astatine nan FAW National Coaching Conference, Chastain takes portion successful nan Pro Licence sessions pinch those connected nan course.

"I've been successful shot for 50 years and I cognize nan lessons and nan learnings that spell retired to young girls and women," she says.

"Activity done sporting endeavours allows young girls to find their sound and their powerfulness and their potential, and we cognize that young girls who participate successful sports go women who lead.

"The statistic opportunity that they spell connected to beryllium executives and they go decision-makers and that's genuinely impactful for nan world.

"I'm hoping location will beryllium immoderate nosy stories successful location but besides immoderate reminders astir really captious bully coaches are for young people. We're each present to thief nan crippled and make nan crippled amended truthful that's connected some sides for nan men and women."

Other impermanent speakers astatine nan convention see Wales men's caput coach Craig Bellamy and caller Rangers leader Russell Martin, who coming their footballing philosophies to a thronged hallway of 100s astatine nan Celtic Manor.

"This is my life," says Bellamy. "This crippled connects you pinch truthful galore group and I'm ever unfastened to views from everyone. I look astatine everything for illustration a puzzle and I effort to bargain ideas from different group to fresh into a puzzle.

"Can you speak pinch passion? I was fortunate I had a head for illustration Sir Bobby Robson who gave maine that. Whether he was correct aliases wrong, you would travel because he said it pinch specified enthusiasm, you would play pinch that enthusiasm.

"I had acquisition of playing nether a batch of managers, bully and bad, and I really tried to study disconnected nan bully and bad, and self-reflection connected myself, put myself backmost into nan player, what worked for me, because I was a analyzable person. I needed a 'why' and immoderate coaches were frightened of that, but I clasp it. I request to know. There's ever a logic to everything I do."

In their ain chopped ways, Bellamy and Martin are flagbearers for nan progressive trends of modern football: possession-based styles of play and building from nan back.

Most young coaches want to travel that path, arsenic you tin spot erstwhile watching this year's harvest of FAW Pro Licence candidates moving connected and disconnected nan field.

But location is still room for nan aged schoolhouse connected this course.

On nan last day, erstwhile Stoke head Tony Pulis is invited to big a masterclass connected set-pieces. It is simply a bedewed and windy Tuesday. This is meant to be.

Before his applicable convention connected nan transportation astatine a rain-lashed Dragon Park, he gives nan Pro Licence group a position connected his profession – and it is axenic gold.

Pulis is successful his constituent arsenic he reels disconnected stories astir his humble beginnings arsenic a subordinate and coach, earlier getting connected to his various managerial tenures, complementing each portion of proposal pinch astatine slightest a mates of entertaining anecdotes that could gain him a 2nd profession connected nan aft meal speaking circuit.

The 67-year-old Welshman has nan room howling pinch laughter, and connected a mates of occasions a giggling Dante asks for a small translator thief from those adjacent to him arsenic he tries to decipher Pulis' wide Newport accent and business language.

Among nan jokes are a number of useful lessons, arsenic Pulis answers questions connected various topics, from nan thief he sewage from his peers (Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti get a mention) to balancing family life pinch nan exhaustive travelling that comes pinch management.

Then he steps retired connected to nan section to return nan applicable convention pinch a group of young players, freezing successful nan rainfall arsenic Pulis barks orders astatine them arsenic if he was preparing them for a long-throw from Rory Delap.

"It's ever bully to travel backmost to Wales and Newport. It's a typical place, this is my town," Pulis says.

"I loved playing shot for my section club, aliases conscionable connected nan streets. It's ever bully to travel and to beryllium progressive successful football, helping group starting retired successful their careers.

"Set-plays person ever been an important portion of shot and I deliberation they've been undervalued. Mikel [Arteta] doing it pinch Arsenal, specified a large nine not conscionable successful England but connected nan world stage, has brought it to nan fore again.

"I've had specified a tremendous profession and nan world's changed, nan game's changed. My first training convention astatine Gillingham, we had to return nan goals disconnected nan main transportation and return them connected a tractor to a parkland and train location pinch group and their dogs stepping past. Then you look astatine this and nan accommodation we've sewage today… it's nan top athletics successful nan world and it's our sport."

Listening arsenic intently to Pulis arsenic nan fledgling coaches – and laughing conscionable arsenic difficult astatine nan jokes – astatine nan backmost of nan room is nan man who oversees nan course, Dave Adams.

As nan FAW's main shot officer, Adams is responsible for nan men's and women's crippled astatine each levels successful Wales.

He appointed some elder nationalist squad caput coaches past twelvemonth and, connected apical of his activity successful processing Welsh football, he leads nan Pro Licence course.

"I'm opinionated connected nan activity of different group successful immoderate respects. Osian Roberts [former FAW method director] did a awesome occupation successful creating a programme which was world-class," says Adams.

"What I tried to do pinch it erstwhile I started successful 2019 was to spell into nan marketplace and speak to caput coaches because, fundamentally, you want a people that reflects nan needs of caput coaches, which are really analyzable and multi-faceted. It's very overmuch reality-based learning. We don't want things to beryllium absurd because coaching is simply a vocational skill.

"We get adjacent to 400 applicants for 20 [Pro Licence] places each 2 years. It's highly competitive. We've sewage to effort and support our Welsh coaches for illustration Chris Gunter and group who are moving for our nationalist association. But equally, we recognise that by having group for illustration Nuri Sahin and Mikel Arteta, Chris Wilder, Roberto Martinez, Steve Cooper earlier that – nan names are extended – they bring a different lens and, arsenic overmuch arsenic we thief them, they really thief america arsenic well.

"They've coached and worked astatine nan highest level. There's a nickname connected our broadside that erstwhile we bring group for illustration that, it's besides astir taking from them, and that helps america grows an association. We study caller things, which we tin use to our programmes aliases our nationalist teams, and that helps america turn arsenic well."

At nan bosom of nan FAW's activity is nan conception of nan Welsh Way, an ethos underpinning everything from nan elite level to grassroots - a imagination for shot successful Wales, really to create nan crippled and foster its consciousness of nationalist pride.

"It's our mantra, Together Stronger. In immoderate department, being small, being agile, being move and everyone emotion a portion of thing is really important," Adams adds.

"In immoderate high-performance coaching environment, that consciousness of togetherness is really important. Whether you're nan caput coach aliases nan masseur aliases nan chef, you've each sewage a captious portion to play and sewage to bargain into nan imagination of nan caput coach.

"It's important we person that mantra and it drives everything we do. Why should we dream small? Dream big. We're a mini state but we've sewage unthinkable talent. We're willing successful nan mini margins and that's what gives america a competitory advantage astatine nan highest level."