Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former West Ham, Chelsea, and England striker Carlton Cole has given his thoughts on former teammates Damien Duff and Robbie Keane and whether they have what it takes to go further in their managerial careers.
Cole has discussed his short stint with Celtic, his background to the move, regrets and how the relationship evolves between manager and player throughout the years and the different perspectives between both.
The former forward has also spoken on Brendan Rodgers’ future at Celtic and tipped Gary O’Neil as a potential future manager for their rivals Rangers.
Playing Football ≠ Good Manager “You Have To Work On Yourself”
Damien Duff has been honing his coaching skills in his homeland. I remember him as a very determined player. I haven't seen much of his managing style, but I wouldn't underestimate him or any of these elite performers. I've been in those elite environments and seen players like Damien Duff succeed.
They train with 100% effort and expect a lot. I recall a comment he made about today's youth being too focused on social media, urging them to prioritise results, training, and self-improvement over TikToks and Reels. While this reflects modern society, he's very old-school. I believe he feels a responsibility to help young players reach the next level, so I have no doubt he'll be on that path soon.
I know Robbie Keane is also managing, somewhere a bit unusual, I think, in Hungary. We may be footballers, but we understand the game; it's our human skills – how we treat players and get the best out of them – that truly matter.
That's the biggest challenge when transitioning from player to manager : how you deal with people. Some of these lads definitely possess that quality because they have empathy and professionalism, having played elite football.
Playing football doesn't automatically make you a great manager. You have to work on yourself and understand that there's a clear distinction between being a footballer and a coach.
Sometimes the two get mixed, and it's like being a player-manager rather than solely a manager. It takes time to convert your mindset. I think Damien Duff will do a brilliant job as a manager because he's a serious individual who takes his job seriously and strives for daily improvement. I have no doubt he'll be successful.
Celtic Regrets
I went to Celtic after a holiday and wasn't at my fittest. I had a stop-start time there, and they wanted me to prove my fitness for a contract. As I was getting fit and about to join the team, my calf went, setting me back another month and a half, two months.
I hadn't really been injured before, certainly never had a calf muscle tear, so it was disappointing. My debut was quite late that season.
I was determined to get back and eventually signed, albeit on a lesser contract, because I wanted to play for that club and prove I still had it. However, the manager, Ronny Deila, was asking me to run the channels, which I couldn't do as a target man at that stage of my career.
I played only five games under him, and while he did get sacked that season, even after we'd won the league, I wasn't happy with what he was asking me to do. I wondered why he'd signed me if he didn't know what kind of player I was.
Leigh Griffiths was on fire at the time, scoring at will. We played one game up front together in the cup and both scored, and I thought that partnership would continue, but it didn't.
Despite this, I loved the people at Celtic. The playing staff were brilliant, and the backroom staff were unbelievable, making me feel very welcome. I had a good time there.
I met Ronny Deila in Atlanta last season, and we had a good discussion about my time at Celtic. It's like meeting an ex-gaffer after your career; everything's more settled, and you don't have those bad vibes anymore. Although I felt he messed me up at the time, I've had time to move past that dislike.
When I spoke to him, he was as good as gold and even asked me to dinner. You realise we all have different experiences, and you have to understand the extreme pressures at elite level.
People make weird decisions at the wrong times and might treat you differently than they would in another job.
It's similar to Alan Pardew. He might have been a certain way with his players when managing, but off the field, he's a top fella. He once told one of my mates that when you're making tough calls in the game, you sometimes don't approach the player you're letting down, and they have to deal with it.
But that player holds that thought against you forever. Sometimes I've done the same, but you later realise they didn't mean it like that , it was just business. You get on with it because that's how life goes in this sport – it's nothing personal, just business.
Rodgers EPL Return
I think he'd probably be angling to get back into the Premier League. The Scottish league, as we know, is a very passionate league. The fans are passionate about their football clubs over there.
But ultimately, the endgame is always the Premier League for every manager. That's where the money's at, that's where the entertainment's at. Brendan Rodgers will probably be looking to angle himself towards a Premier League club if one becomes available.
I think he's a good manager, I think he's managed some top clubs, and I think he will go on to fulfil that again in the Premier League at some stage.
But it's up to him where he wants to go with his career. Obviously, he has to speak to his family and see what they want. If he's doing what he's supposed to be doing at Celtic, and if he leaves in the right way , I think the fans will always give him their blessings.
Then they get the next up-and-coming manager, or the next one that needs a chance to prove themselves again. That format has worked for Celtic over the years , getting managers in who probably had a bad time in the Premier League, going over there and revamping, reigniting the flame and the love of football that they once had.
Because that's what it does, it gives you that love back for the game. So hopefully, we will get to see Brendan Rodgers in the Premier League very soon.
Gary O’Neil To Rangers?
Gary O'Neil is a good friend of mine, and we talk regularly. He actually wanted me to help him out with West Ham, but I told him I wasn't powerful enough! He's desperate to get back into management and has so many ideas and thoughts. I believe he's also planning to bring in new backroom staff.
While you never want to see a manager lose their job, I was disappointed for Gaz when he was sacked at Bournemouth. I thought he was hard done by there. He then went to Wolves and did a great job, saving them from relegation. Again, I felt he was hard done by as he wasn't given enough time.
I look at Gary and think he could go to a club, and I don't want to see anything happen to Russell Martin, so it's a hard one to comment on. But when you're in the belly of the beast, you have to admit that if you're not getting results, you'll be sacked.
If Gaz wants to go there and replace the current manager, I wouldn't put it past him to have a good time and find what he's looking for, which would then propel him into the Premier League, the promised land.
I see Gary as a massive character and a great manager. He's constantly learning about tactics and studies the game thoroughly. He's a great asset for English football, and I believe he'll be a top manager with more experience. Remember, he's only my age – we're both 42, and I will be next month.
That’s still relatively young for managers. While you have managers like Fabian Hurzeler, who's only 32, there are many of us at this age who are still learning the ame.
You don't really conquer this game properly until you're about 50, I reckon. By then, you have all the tactics in your head, know how to respond, how to set up, how to read players, and what type of players you need for your system.
So, he's still learning, don't get me wrong, but he's started brilliantly, and I hope he gets the next job wherever he interviews.
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