Soccer: Emblen relishes his learning curve

Neil Emblen. Photo / Dean Purcell

It is no great surprise that Neil Emblen is making a decent fist of it as a coach at Waitakere United.

After all, 10 years ago the well-respected Nigel Worthington, now coach of Northern Ireland, said to Emblen, whom he had appointed captain at Norwich City: "You will be a good coach."

Emblen admits he has a long way to go but is enjoying every minute - apart from results like last week's loss to AS Tefana in Papeete - of a steep learning curve.

It is, he realises, a tough ask being a player/coach at ASB Premiership level but insists he won't be lacing his boots next season. He has said that before but realises the time is coming - he will be 40 in June - to give the playing side a miss and concentrate on managing one of the more successful club sides in his adopted country.

"The lads know I'm the boss and respect that," said Emblen. "There have been no issues and I'm happy with the way things have gone. This weekend, I won't play. It is the chance to give other players a chance.

"I have encouraged an open style to my coaching. They know they can knock on the door any time, just as they know I can't pick 30 players to play. I don't mind having to make that decision but I know as a player what I wanted [from the coach] and am aware of that.

"I played under some real good coaches and I hope that I have learned a little from every one of them. Then, hopefully, I can go on and make my own mark," said Emblen, who made his way to Waitakere after a stint with the ill-fated New Zealand Knights in the early Hyundai A-League seasons.

"It is different over here from what I experienced in my professional days in England. Here guys turn up for training often a bit fatigued after a day's work. You have to adapt to the different culture."

Emblen, subject to some big transfer deals in his long career in the English leagues, said the game here offered great opportunities for young players and he was keen to encourage them.

"The under-17 and under-20 players - men and women - and others like the Olympic team and even the All Whites get international opportunities young players in England can generally only dream about. On the other hand, they have 92 professional clubs at their disposal where in New Zealand there is only one.

"There are players in the A-League who could easily fit in at Championship level or other divisions in England," said Emblen. "But the lower levels of the game in England are just hustle and bustle. I didn't want to finish up in that."

Instead, he travelled halfway around the world with his wife and family and now feels settled and comfortable here.

He remains grateful for the chance afforded him by Waitakere United and takes solace in that others such as Steve Cain have come from England, worked through the club system here and moved on to the international stage.

"People know I want New Zealand to do well," he said. "If I can contribute in some way, I would take real satisfaction in that."

Emblen has already turned heads with his strong youth policy. He sees that as the way of the future for the game here but as he said this week: "We [Waitakere under Emblen] haven't really won anything yet.

"That's enough motivation for me to keep trying." And that's happening again tomorrow with the home game against Hawkes Bay United.