The recent loss of Gary Ablett at such a young age was a shock for everyone connected with Liverpool FC, including former manager Rafa Benitez, who has paid a glowing tribute to the defender who won two league titles at Anfield.
Writing on his website, Benitez - who brought Ablett back to the club in 2006 as reserve team coach - said:
"When I first interviewed him [Ablett] for the post of Reserve Team Coach, I could tell from a report that he had written that he was a dedicated, hard-working professional, and that he loved his work helping young lads to improve. But what struck me most was his character - you could see straightaway that he was a good human being.
"His attitude towards what we were trying to achieve on a day to day basis was always excellent, and when he was with the players, Reserves as well as First Team players at Liverpool, he was always willing to listen, with a positive approach to help them to get better.
"Together with my staff I would like to send our condolences to all his family and friends. Rest in Peace".
In an interview with the official Liverpool website in 2007, Ablett revealed how Benitez brought him back to the club:
"He [Benitez] questioned me about my background, coaching in general and what I'd been up to with Everton for the previous three to four years. He then got the tactics board out and I was asked to solve some hypothetical problems. It was a quite intense two hours. He really grilled me but at the same time I enjoyed it.
"I was invited back for a second interview and asked to submit a small programme/plan for the following season. You only get one chance at a job like this though and I was determined not to mess up so I sat down at the computer and ended up with a seven page report!
"I was quite nervous and not sure how it had gone but later that night when I took a step back and reflected on our meeting I started to think that it had gone well. From our conversation it became clear that we shared the same basic principles and that the role was a developmental one, working with young players and preparing them for the first team.
"About two weeks passed before Rafa was back in touch. He wanted to see me at Melwood immediately. So after a quick shave and change I'm sitting downstairs again at the training ground, the sweat was pouring off me and my mind working overtime. After about half an hour he emerged at the top of the stairs and asked me up to his office.
Still, I didn't have a clue about which way it was going to go. One part of me was thinking he wouldn't have asked me to come along if the answer was no but at the same maybe he just wanted to pass on the bad news face-to-face. However, I was soon put out of my misery. I reached the top of the stairs he turned to me and simply said 'congratulations, the job is yours'. "
Jaimie Kanwar
Writing on his website, Benitez - who brought Ablett back to the club in 2006 as reserve team coach - said:
"When I first interviewed him [Ablett] for the post of Reserve Team Coach, I could tell from a report that he had written that he was a dedicated, hard-working professional, and that he loved his work helping young lads to improve. But what struck me most was his character - you could see straightaway that he was a good human being.
"His attitude towards what we were trying to achieve on a day to day basis was always excellent, and when he was with the players, Reserves as well as First Team players at Liverpool, he was always willing to listen, with a positive approach to help them to get better.
"Together with my staff I would like to send our condolences to all his family and friends. Rest in Peace".
In an interview with the official Liverpool website in 2007, Ablett revealed how Benitez brought him back to the club:
"He [Benitez] questioned me about my background, coaching in general and what I'd been up to with Everton for the previous three to four years. He then got the tactics board out and I was asked to solve some hypothetical problems. It was a quite intense two hours. He really grilled me but at the same time I enjoyed it.
"I was invited back for a second interview and asked to submit a small programme/plan for the following season. You only get one chance at a job like this though and I was determined not to mess up so I sat down at the computer and ended up with a seven page report!
"I was quite nervous and not sure how it had gone but later that night when I took a step back and reflected on our meeting I started to think that it had gone well. From our conversation it became clear that we shared the same basic principles and that the role was a developmental one, working with young players and preparing them for the first team.
"About two weeks passed before Rafa was back in touch. He wanted to see me at Melwood immediately. So after a quick shave and change I'm sitting downstairs again at the training ground, the sweat was pouring off me and my mind working overtime. After about half an hour he emerged at the top of the stairs and asked me up to his office.
Still, I didn't have a clue about which way it was going to go. One part of me was thinking he wouldn't have asked me to come along if the answer was no but at the same maybe he just wanted to pass on the bad news face-to-face. However, I was soon put out of my misery. I reached the top of the stairs he turned to me and simply said 'congratulations, the job is yours'. "
Jaimie Kanwar
Credit to Rafa and Gary Ablett ...both respect and honour and dedication to lfc from the two...you will never walk alone
ReplyDeleteCondolence's to Ablett family at this very sad time " what a nice man " will be missed , but remembered very fondly , rest in peace Gary
ReplyDelete