Robbie Fowler interview: 'I'm probably the most experienced inexperienced manager in the world!'
The Reds legend chats exclusively to Covering Liverpool about his latest job, managing Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi First Division
For someone so closely associated with his home city, Robbie Fowler hasn’t half done some travelling.
“I’m probably the most experienced ‘inexperienced manager’ in the world, aren’t I?!” the Anfield legend laughs, speaking exclusively to Covering Liverpool to discuss his latest foreign mission, and his latest managerial challenge, with Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi First Division.
It’s a challenge he’s clearly relishing. At the international break, Fowler’s side sit second in the table, having won five and drawn two of their opening seven league matches. Having finished 11th of 18 last season, hopes are high that the club, who are now owned by Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil group, will soon be mixing with the likes of Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and the rest in the Saudi Pro League.
Fowler took the job in June, having grown tired of being overlooked for jobs in the UK. Having managed previously in Thailand (Muangthong United), Australia (Brisbane Roar) and India (East Bengal), the 48-year-old believes he deserves credit for, as he puts it, “being willing to move out of my comfort zone in a bid to be the best manager I can be.”
The political and financial questions, he understands, are inevitable, but he is keen to stress that this is not the Saudi Pro League we are talking about. Fowler has had to build a team effectively from scratch, using nous, contacts and coaching skills as much as chequebook.
His squad is an eclectic bunch, containing a host of home-grown Saudi players, but also the likes of Joel Robles, the former Everton and Leeds United goalkeeper, ex-Watford winger André Carrillo, striker Mbaye Diagne, once of West Bromwich Albion and, naturally, a Scouser in midfielder Max Power, previously of Tranmere Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland.
There are two Scousers on his staff, too, with ex-Everton duo Tony Grant and Francis Jeffers making up his coaching team. Jeffers gave an interview to The Times’ Paul Joyce this week, in which he spoke glowingly about Fowler’s “meticulous” nature and his ability to implement a possession-based, three-at-the-back system.
Fowler, clearly, is enjoying the challenge of life in a(nother) new country, and over the course of our half-hour chat, his passion for the game, and for management, shines through.
Read on for the full interview…
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