Tottenham fans may not remember him, but Ricardo Moniz has played a major role in the clubs resurgence. From 2005 until 2008 Moniz position at Spurs was that of skills coach under the management of Martin Jol. Moniz’s job was to polish the skills of the first team players and help improve those of the younger players coming through, in manner of Rene Meulensteen at Manchester United. One of the young players he helped was Gareth Bale. Another was Aaron Lennon. Under Harry Redknapp Spurs, at their most threatening, focused much of their play in the wide areas. Of course it was Redknapp’s team that pushed Tottenham into the lofty position that Andre Vilas-Boas has maintained.
It is not just the impact that Moniz had on the players during his time their. He left behind a philosophy for the youth department to follow and a way to implement said philosophy. I recently spoke to a youth team coach at a professional club whose side has faced Tottenham and Arsenal. It was apparent to him which team has a focus on one versus domination and which has a possession based focus. Moniz is regarded as a disciple of Wiel Coerver. The Coerver coaching method is based on Wiel Coerver’s ideal of the individual being more important than the team. This was taken up by Alf Galustian and Charlie Cooke to create the Coerver coaching company. Wiel Coerver himself went his own way, not involved with the company named in his honour.
When Moniz left Tottenham he followed Jol to Hamburg. His path took in management at FC Red Bull Salzburg, winning the Austrian league and cup double. From Salzburg came a move to Ferencvaros in Hungary. During my visit to Hungary I spent a morning at Ferencvaros where I was privileged to see Ricardo Moniz coach his side.
I was intrigued how the Coerver ideals would translate into first team football. The idea of individual skills above group tactics is terrific for kids, but surely at the top level tactical dominance and preparation is key? Perhaps it is, but not on this day for Moniz.
The session I viewed was quite clearly a shooting and finishing one. The presence of three full size goals at one end of the pitch indicated as much. Yet it began with ball mastery, a signature of Coerver sessions. The players worked in groups of four operating within a square, two at one end and two at the other. A pass was played and the receiver dribbled past the other two players who challenged at around 50% pressure (as instructed by the coach). While dribbling around the two challengers the attackers were encouraged to use tricks, drag pushes, step scissors, twist offs and so forth.
This pattern moved to the goals. The groups became a little larger. Six plus a goalkeeper. When the attacker received and beat went past the two defenders his task was to score. Any finish. Bottom corner, top corner, just put that ball in the net in the most effective way possible. While creativity in the dribble was highly encouraged I witnessed Moniz question a player who attempted a rabona to finish. The question, essentially, was “Do you not like scoring goals?”
As the session progressed all types of finish were introduced. Left foot drive, right foot drive, headers, volleys, close range chips, chips from the edge of the area with both feet. Each time it was a contest. The three groups competing against each other to see who could score 5 goals first. If the target was reached too quickly, it was changed to ensure more repetitions. Although there were four other coaches present Moniz approach was hands on and player centred. He led the session. He gave out the advice. He focused on the small technical details for each player. The place they struck the ball for dip, swerve or loft. The body shape required for the technique. Very much a head coach, not a manager.
Then that was it. An hour and a half had flashed by. There was no match or small sided game to finish. The focus was purely on the technique of scoring goals. I later learned that the players also had a second session that afternoon which would have a greater tactical focus.
Ricardo Moniz background as a skills coach was clear throughout this session. Years of experience told him that the players would engage more if their simple technical practice became a competition. That same experience told him that small groups were required in order to ensure all players received multiple and varied opportunities to practice.That all players need to be watched and advised in a variety of ways. And that all players, at whatever age, want to take part in activities that are enjoyable as well as educational. The word education may seem incorrect in the context of professional footballers, but their muscles are still learning to produce the precise technique on cue.
What was also clear was that this session could easily have been delivered at grassroots level. perhaps not with the technical detail of Moniz, but the set up could easily be followed. The exercises themselves repeated almost exactly for most age groups (depending on ability and experience). On many occasions I have read that coaches make the mistake of coaching children as though they are mini adults. Could it be that the reverse is also true? That many coaches should design their sessions as though their players are big children?
—— On Thursday 10th October Ferencvaros player Akeem Adams had his leg amputated. A month previously he had suffered a severe heart attack. An artificial heart had to be fitted while a donor was found. A month prior to this I had watched Adams train at Ferencvaros. ——
http://www.coerver.co.uk/history.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Moniz
http://www.ftc.hu/index.php?lang=en
http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/trinidad-tobago-footballer-adams-leg-amputated_770523.html