I was reading your article with intrest.It happens all the time.I used to play pro in my early days but got injured and ended up playing Semi pro for the rst of my career.I wasn't a great player but could always read the game well.So I went into coaching after I finished playing(into my 30's).I was never regarded as a pro in the "old boys "eyes so had to work really hard to obtain all my licences.Prelim, UEFA C and UEFA B.On the course we had pro's and in particular on the B a pro who played for the same club as I did Brentford.He was still playing at the time at Wycombe and hes a good friend.He coaching was awful but was told on the first day to put in for his A licence, so he had passed without even having to work! I passed as well and went on to work as chief scout for the Southern region for Oldham and Andy Ritchie told me on his A he had 2 coaches who weren't pro's and those 2 were the best there, yet who failed????? Yes those 2 all the others passed.I have since moved on to a full time coaching position in the USA and have taken all of their licences and its the same here, with the pros out of the MLS.They just can't coach and yet they pass, it doesn't make sence.Its the same the world over! Richard Smith

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Have you ever been on a coaching course and found that the poorest performing coach there was an ex-pro?



Were you told he's an ex-pro, so he must know his stuff when he was a clearly rubbish?



Did he pass the assessments when better coaches were failed?



If so I would like to hear your stories.