Former Coventry City manager Gordon Strachan recently shared his thoughts on the club’s coaching changes following the sudden departure of assistant manager Adi Viveash last month. Strachan, who played for and managed the Sky Blues in the Premier League during the mid to late 1990s, expressed his surprise at the breakup of the management duo that had been instrumental to the club’s success over the past seven years.
In discussing his reaction to the changes in the coaching staff, Strachan noted that the news of Viveash’s departure was unexpected and appeared to come as a shock to both fans and those outside the club. He mentioned that it was difficult to predict such a move, indicating that it likely caught many off guard.
When asked whether the departure should be seen as a cause for concern or an opportunity for a fresh start with new coaches bringing different ideas and approaches, Strachan admitted his initial surprise. He commented, “I was surprised by the departure of Adi Viveash. Nobody really saw that coming, or at least that is what it looked like from outside the club.”
Regarding the appointment of George Boateng as a first team coach, Strachan reflected on his history with the former Dutch international. He had signed Boateng from Feyenoord in 1998 for a modest fee of £220,000. While Strachan acknowledged that he had not observed Boateng in his coaching role, he shared an anecdote about their past interactions.
Strachan recounted a conversation with Boateng from when he was coaching the Aston Villa youth team. During their chat, Boateng expressed frustrations about the limitations on what he could instruct his players. Strachan humorously noted that Boateng was experiencing the same challenges he had faced as a manager when working with the player years ago. He remembered their clashes and disagreements, finding it amusing that Boateng was now in a similar position, struggling to convey his messages to young players.
Reflecting on Boateng’s potential impact at Coventry, Strachan expressed hope for his success and curiosity about what he would bring to the team. He stated, “It’s funny, because the last time I spoke to George he was working as a coach in the Aston Villa youth team. It was a good chat because he was sharing his frustrations with me about what instructions he could and couldn’t give his players and I had to remind him that was what he was like when I was managing him! Sometimes we clashed and were at loggerheads. It did make me laugh that he was asking his own players exactly what I was telling him years ago, and he couldn’t understand why they couldn’t take it in. I’m thinking to myself, ‘Really George?’ I hope he can be a success at Coventry, and I look forward to seeing what he brings to the table.”
Overall, Strachan’s insights reflect a mix of surprise and optimism regarding the changes in Coventry City’s coaching staff. He acknowledged the unexpected nature of Viveash’s departure while expressing a hopeful outlook for Boateng’s contributions to the team.
