In India, Riise takes first steps to coaching
John Arne Riise talks like a fanboy. Like Roberto Carlos, he too is a left-back in the offensive mould. And just like his ‘idol’, Riise too has a powerful left foot. So when the Delhi Dynamos offer came along, the Norwegian says it was a no-brainer. He may have rubbed shoulders with some of the best players of his generation, but the idea of playing for a team coached by Carlos was enough for the former Liverpool defender to embark on a long journey to the subcontinent.
Though starstruck, Carlos isn’t the only factor that has brought Riise to India. He hopes the Indian Super League (ISL) will eventually be a launchpad for his managerial ambitions, for which he has been taking advice from Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez.
“When the offer came, I was like ‘I am here to play and being coached by my idol.’ Then I spoke to Prashant (Agarwal, Delhi Dynamos president) about my future, because I want to play until I am 40, maybe more, because I still feel strong and fit. And I also want to become a manager. I thought it was a good idea to spend a couple of seasons here, try being a player-coach as well and then eventually become a manager for a club,” Riise tells The Indian Express.
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Riise isn’t the only player who is using ISL as a platform to pursue their managerial future. Nicolas Anelka and Marco Materazzi are others who’re testing their coaching skills in India. Although Riise isn’t officially on Carlos’ coaching staff, he has been picking the Brazilian’s brains during training and hopes to be a part of his plans in the future editions.
“Roberto is my go-to man if I want to learn something. Hopefully, if he stays here, I can be a part of his future plans as well. I connect well with him and we think the same,” he says.
The 35-year-old has more than 200 appearances for Liverpool, during which he won the Champions League under Rafael Benitez. The Spaniard remains a huge influence on Riise and has invited him to watch Real Madrid’s training sessions to assist his coaching license programmes.
“I speak to Benitez. I keep getting some tips from him regularly and share a good rapport with him because we’ve spent the best nights of our lives together at Liverpool,” Riise says. “From managerial point of view, I would go to him for any advice because he is the one I am closest to. He even offered me to come and watch how Real Madrid train for 10 days, two weeks.”
While he has been busy on field, Riise has already begun imparting coaching lessons to the Indian players, who he feels need to work a lot harder. He has been impressed with the progress made by young Indian defender Souvik Ghosh but like most foreign players, Riise observes that Indian players lack tactical knowledge because they start late.
