before i start i have loaded up English prem-L2, Scottish prem, Turkish prem and Russian prem (incase i tire of British leagues)
So i'd retired from the beautiful game 3 years ago, i'd enjoyed a fairly good career although blighted by injury in parts i can fairly say it was a great enjoyment playing the game i loved since i can remember.
My playing career started coming through the ranks at Middlesbrough as a forward in the 80's, i would say i was more known for my spells at Everton, my beloved West Ham and Celtic. I also had short spells at Espanyol, Birmingham and my home town team Hartlepool United where i finshed my career.
Since my retirement i had done a bit of media work, mainly local and all but completed my coaching badges, i learnt the ropes of coaching in Holland where i spent a year as a youth coach with Feyenoord.
It was one afternoon i got the break i had hoped for. It was a miserable afternoon at my home in the North-East of England when i got the phone call dreams were made of. My phone rang, it was Steve Gibson chairman of Middlesbrough FC. He wanted to have a chat with me about what i was going to do with myself and said he had an oppurtunity for me. I was intrueged he wanted to meet me at the Riverside Stadium home of Middlesbrough for a 'chat' tomorrow, i couldn't refuse. I assumed he was going to offer me a coaching or a scouting role at the club where i started my career.
the next day....
I turned up at the Riverside on a breezy Thursday morning, i noticed Steve's car was already parked up so i went to reception and the girl lead me to Steve's office where he was waiting. The Riverside was a nice stadium, i had been before as a spectator now and then, it's a **** of a lot different to Ayresome Park when i used to play here back in the 80's and early 90's that was a proper old football ground. Anyways Steve looked pleased to see me and vice versa. And the conversation went a little something like.......
SG: Right Liam, let's get down to business. Do you know why your'e sat here?
Me: No Steve, i haven't got a clue, i'm eager to find out why though...
SG: Well there's a situation here, the new season starts in just over a month's time and i need a manager to take this club back to where it belongs....
Me: What about Southgate? i havent heard anything about him being let go?
SG: It's been settled Gareth knew last week we were going to part ways, a press satement will be released shortly. I want an instant replacement, this may come as a surprise to you but out of all the people we have considered i want you to lead us back into the Premier League and beyond, what do you say to that?
Me: I'm gobsmacked Steve, I don't what to say, i mean i thought you would be after a gaffer with a bit more managerial experiance....
SG: Well your'e local, your'e from the area your'e an ex-Boro player, and your'e hungry for success, i'll level with you we cannot afford to offer managers massive salaries, it came down to a few on the shortlist which were yourself, Colin Cooper who is first team coach, Tony Adams, Peter Taylor, Steve Coppell and David Platt. So the job is your's if you want it, i've drawn up a contract here you go.....
Me: This is a big step for me Steve, i verbally agreed to coach the youth setup over at Real Murcia this season, although i wasn't too keen on the idea but there wasn't much else on the horizon until now....
SG: Well don't go, there's a 2 year contract with a £135,000 a year salary. decision is yours.....
Me: Much appreciated Mr Gibson, this is a marvelous oppertunity for me, where do i sign?
Steve had told me i would be unveiled in a couple of days as manager, yes manager of Middlesbrough FC. I think he wanted the Southgate thing to die down for at least a couple of days before anouncing me as the gaffer.
BORO UNVEIL TWEDDLE AS NEW MANAGER
Middlesbrough have today anounced that ex-player Liam Tweddle will take charge at the Riverside with immediate effect.
Tweddle, 38, played for Middlesbrough from 1987 to 1992 making 88 appearances for the Teesside outfit but this is his first managerial role. Tweddle has previously coached part of the youth setup at Feyenoord 2 seasons ago but has been off the footballing radar ever since. This appointment will no doubt come as a surprise to the Middlesbrough fans, who would have been hoping for a more high-profile manager.
Previous manager Gareth Southgate was sacked only 2 days ago following Boro's relegation from the English Premier League and Boro chairman Steve Gibson believe's Tweddle is the right man for the job.
"I wouldn't be sat here with Liam if i didn't think he was the right man to manage Middlesbrough Football Club. He knows what the fans want, he's played for the club, he's effectively one of our own, and i have faith he can deliver the goods" said Gibson
When Southgate was sacked 2 days ago bookies made former Reading manager Steve Coppell favourite for the job along with Terry Venables, David O'Leary and Colin Cooper also contenders. It seems Gibson kept everyone guessing with this appointment.
Southgate however had already started rebuilding for the start of the Championship season with Boro, bringing in new faces such as Leroy Lita, Mark Yeates, Sean St Ledger and Danny Coyne to the Riverside.
The news was out, i confirmed as the new manager of Middlesbrough, my phone hadn't stopped ringing but mind was on today's press conference being presented to the footballing world with my first managerial job and i was excited. I hadn't met the players yet but i had took time out to look at details of the playing staff and the squad looked quite thin, and if there's funds i would be strengthening the squad.
My backroom satff however i had met, Steve told me i could bring in my own staff which i had mt ideas about, I was planning on bringing in Dave Bassett who was my gaffer when i had brief stint at Notts Forest, i like Dave and we stayed in touch, he has a vast knowledge of the English game and i'd spoke to him about about an assistant manager role on which he seemed keen on, also another experianced coach Ray Mathias who i'd knew through various coaching schemes was out of a job and he like Dave has vast experiance and i wanted him at Middlesbrough.
The staff at Middlesbrough are a good group mainly all local lads or ex-players such as Jamie Pollock, Curtis Flemming, Craig Hignett and Colin Cooper. which was good because i had played with Higgy and Coops during my playing time at Middlesbrough so it was nice to see some friendly faces. However Gary Pendrey who is assistant manager did not fit into my plans, so we came to a mutual agreement for Gary to leave the club, he understood i wanted my own staff in and that was that, i had informed the board only for them to get back to me and say they couldn't afford Gary's compensation! now things might be a little awkward, the guy knows he's not wanted but has to carry on working, that is something i will have to resolve. This management carry on isint as easy as it seems.
Anyway it was time for me to be unveiled as Middlesbrough manager and the press conference was set for 2.30pm at the Riverside. National and local media had gathered there was journalists from 5 Live, Sky Sports, BBC Tees, Real Radio, The Observer, The Evening Gazette amongst others.
Steve Gibson: I'm delighted to anounce that Liam Tweddle is the new manager of Middlesbrough Football Club on a 2 year contract, we are hopeful he is the man to guide us back into the Premier League were the club belongs, we are now ready for youre questions, thank you
Media: So Liam it must have come as a shock to you when you got the call from Steve?
Me: Yes it did take me back a bit, but it's a marvelous oppertunity for me to be here, i couldn't turn it down
Media: Is this your dream job?
Me: I'm really pleased to have the chance to work here at Middlesbrough, I spent 5 wonderful years here as a young player learning my trade, and it's nice to be learning my managerial skills here, it's a wondeful club
Media: Last season was a haunting one for Boro fans, a season which saw the club relegated from the Premier League, how do you rate your chances of bouncing straight back Liam?
Me: I think a number of things are in place, there's money to strenghen the squad if i need to, we have a good squad of players here anyway, and the academy here at Boro is well known for bringing through talent, so we should be up there come May
Media: What type of game will you get your players playing? how do you like to do things as a manager?
Me: Well i would like think we can play attractive football, i want the Middlesbrough fans to get their money's worth when the come down here to watch us, these players should be priveledged that people pay to watch them play and i will remind them of that everytime they step out onto the pitch
Media: So your'e saying value for money at the Riverside this season, How involved to you tend to be in the day to day running of the club Liam?
Me: Heavily involved, Football is my passion and this job will be getting my full focus, i want success here at Middlesbrough and myself and everyone will have to work hard for that to happen
Media: Have you made any decisions regarding your playing staff as of yet? do you have an idea of who is in your plans and who isint?
Me: I am coming close to formulating my plans about players futures, i have a good idea, but the squad here is very thin at the moment, we also have a lot of young lads coming through which is always a good thing
Media: So will we see you delve into the transfer market soon?
Me: I think that's more than likely, the chairman's gave me funds to spend and as i say the squad is very thin so it's more than likely i will be investing in players, yes
Media: You have taken charge at a time when David Wheater and Adam Johnson seem set to leave the club, what are youre chances of keeping hold of youre star players?
Me: David and Adam are definately players i want to keept here, the are top players
Media: Any truth in the rumour that youre interested in signing Cluj forward Yssouf Kone and ex-Real Madrid defender Ivan Helguera?
Me: That's just pure speculation i'm afraid, i have not made contact with any players as of yet
Media: What's the truth in you wanting Gareth Southgate's signings out even after only a few weeks at the club?
Me: Nonsense, everyone will be given a chance. It doesnt matter to me which manager brought them here Gareth Southgate, Steve McClaren or Biggs Bunny it doesnt matter to me, these are my bunch of players now and if there good enough to play for Middlesbrough they will stay, if they are not they will be moved on
Media: Good Luck for the new season Liam!
Me: Thank You
That was that, the press conference was over i could now look forward to bringing in players and getting Pre- Season underway. The Pre Season Fixture list looked like this...
CSKA Sofia (H)
Southend (A)
Darlington (A)
Mantova (A)
AEK Athens (H)
The Transfer Market awaits.....
More Updates to Follow.....
So i'd retired from the beautiful game 3 years ago, i'd enjoyed a fairly good career although blighted by injury in parts i can fairly say it was a great enjoyment playing the game i loved since i can remember.
My playing career started coming through the ranks at Middlesbrough as a forward in the 80's, i would say i was more known for my spells at Everton, my beloved West Ham and Celtic. I also had short spells at Espanyol, Birmingham and my home town team Hartlepool United where i finshed my career.
Since my retirement i had done a bit of media work, mainly local and all but completed my coaching badges, i learnt the ropes of coaching in Holland where i spent a year as a youth coach with Feyenoord.
It was one afternoon i got the break i had hoped for. It was a miserable afternoon at my home in the North-East of England when i got the phone call dreams were made of. My phone rang, it was Steve Gibson chairman of Middlesbrough FC. He wanted to have a chat with me about what i was going to do with myself and said he had an oppurtunity for me. I was intrueged he wanted to meet me at the Riverside Stadium home of Middlesbrough for a 'chat' tomorrow, i couldn't refuse. I assumed he was going to offer me a coaching or a scouting role at the club where i started my career.
the next day....
I turned up at the Riverside on a breezy Thursday morning, i noticed Steve's car was already parked up so i went to reception and the girl lead me to Steve's office where he was waiting. The Riverside was a nice stadium, i had been before as a spectator now and then, it's a **** of a lot different to Ayresome Park when i used to play here back in the 80's and early 90's that was a proper old football ground. Anyways Steve looked pleased to see me and vice versa. And the conversation went a little something like.......
SG: Right Liam, let's get down to business. Do you know why your'e sat here?
Me: No Steve, i haven't got a clue, i'm eager to find out why though...
SG: Well there's a situation here, the new season starts in just over a month's time and i need a manager to take this club back to where it belongs....
Me: What about Southgate? i havent heard anything about him being let go?
SG: It's been settled Gareth knew last week we were going to part ways, a press satement will be released shortly. I want an instant replacement, this may come as a surprise to you but out of all the people we have considered i want you to lead us back into the Premier League and beyond, what do you say to that?
Me: I'm gobsmacked Steve, I don't what to say, i mean i thought you would be after a gaffer with a bit more managerial experiance....
SG: Well your'e local, your'e from the area your'e an ex-Boro player, and your'e hungry for success, i'll level with you we cannot afford to offer managers massive salaries, it came down to a few on the shortlist which were yourself, Colin Cooper who is first team coach, Tony Adams, Peter Taylor, Steve Coppell and David Platt. So the job is your's if you want it, i've drawn up a contract here you go.....
Me: This is a big step for me Steve, i verbally agreed to coach the youth setup over at Real Murcia this season, although i wasn't too keen on the idea but there wasn't much else on the horizon until now....
SG: Well don't go, there's a 2 year contract with a £135,000 a year salary. decision is yours.....
Me: Much appreciated Mr Gibson, this is a marvelous oppertunity for me, where do i sign?
Steve had told me i would be unveiled in a couple of days as manager, yes manager of Middlesbrough FC. I think he wanted the Southgate thing to die down for at least a couple of days before anouncing me as the gaffer.
BORO UNVEIL TWEDDLE AS NEW MANAGER
Middlesbrough have today anounced that ex-player Liam Tweddle will take charge at the Riverside with immediate effect.
Tweddle, 38, played for Middlesbrough from 1987 to 1992 making 88 appearances for the Teesside outfit but this is his first managerial role. Tweddle has previously coached part of the youth setup at Feyenoord 2 seasons ago but has been off the footballing radar ever since. This appointment will no doubt come as a surprise to the Middlesbrough fans, who would have been hoping for a more high-profile manager.
Previous manager Gareth Southgate was sacked only 2 days ago following Boro's relegation from the English Premier League and Boro chairman Steve Gibson believe's Tweddle is the right man for the job.
"I wouldn't be sat here with Liam if i didn't think he was the right man to manage Middlesbrough Football Club. He knows what the fans want, he's played for the club, he's effectively one of our own, and i have faith he can deliver the goods" said Gibson
When Southgate was sacked 2 days ago bookies made former Reading manager Steve Coppell favourite for the job along with Terry Venables, David O'Leary and Colin Cooper also contenders. It seems Gibson kept everyone guessing with this appointment.
Southgate however had already started rebuilding for the start of the Championship season with Boro, bringing in new faces such as Leroy Lita, Mark Yeates, Sean St Ledger and Danny Coyne to the Riverside.
The news was out, i confirmed as the new manager of Middlesbrough, my phone hadn't stopped ringing but mind was on today's press conference being presented to the footballing world with my first managerial job and i was excited. I hadn't met the players yet but i had took time out to look at details of the playing staff and the squad looked quite thin, and if there's funds i would be strengthening the squad.
My backroom satff however i had met, Steve told me i could bring in my own staff which i had mt ideas about, I was planning on bringing in Dave Bassett who was my gaffer when i had brief stint at Notts Forest, i like Dave and we stayed in touch, he has a vast knowledge of the English game and i'd spoke to him about about an assistant manager role on which he seemed keen on, also another experianced coach Ray Mathias who i'd knew through various coaching schemes was out of a job and he like Dave has vast experiance and i wanted him at Middlesbrough.
The staff at Middlesbrough are a good group mainly all local lads or ex-players such as Jamie Pollock, Curtis Flemming, Craig Hignett and Colin Cooper. which was good because i had played with Higgy and Coops during my playing time at Middlesbrough so it was nice to see some friendly faces. However Gary Pendrey who is assistant manager did not fit into my plans, so we came to a mutual agreement for Gary to leave the club, he understood i wanted my own staff in and that was that, i had informed the board only for them to get back to me and say they couldn't afford Gary's compensation! now things might be a little awkward, the guy knows he's not wanted but has to carry on working, that is something i will have to resolve. This management carry on isint as easy as it seems.
Anyway it was time for me to be unveiled as Middlesbrough manager and the press conference was set for 2.30pm at the Riverside. National and local media had gathered there was journalists from 5 Live, Sky Sports, BBC Tees, Real Radio, The Observer, The Evening Gazette amongst others.
Steve Gibson: I'm delighted to anounce that Liam Tweddle is the new manager of Middlesbrough Football Club on a 2 year contract, we are hopeful he is the man to guide us back into the Premier League were the club belongs, we are now ready for youre questions, thank you
Media: So Liam it must have come as a shock to you when you got the call from Steve?
Me: Yes it did take me back a bit, but it's a marvelous oppertunity for me to be here, i couldn't turn it down
Media: Is this your dream job?
Me: I'm really pleased to have the chance to work here at Middlesbrough, I spent 5 wonderful years here as a young player learning my trade, and it's nice to be learning my managerial skills here, it's a wondeful club
Media: Last season was a haunting one for Boro fans, a season which saw the club relegated from the Premier League, how do you rate your chances of bouncing straight back Liam?
Me: I think a number of things are in place, there's money to strenghen the squad if i need to, we have a good squad of players here anyway, and the academy here at Boro is well known for bringing through talent, so we should be up there come May
Media: What type of game will you get your players playing? how do you like to do things as a manager?
Me: Well i would like think we can play attractive football, i want the Middlesbrough fans to get their money's worth when the come down here to watch us, these players should be priveledged that people pay to watch them play and i will remind them of that everytime they step out onto the pitch
Media: So your'e saying value for money at the Riverside this season, How involved to you tend to be in the day to day running of the club Liam?
Me: Heavily involved, Football is my passion and this job will be getting my full focus, i want success here at Middlesbrough and myself and everyone will have to work hard for that to happen
Media: Have you made any decisions regarding your playing staff as of yet? do you have an idea of who is in your plans and who isint?
Me: I am coming close to formulating my plans about players futures, i have a good idea, but the squad here is very thin at the moment, we also have a lot of young lads coming through which is always a good thing
Media: So will we see you delve into the transfer market soon?
Me: I think that's more than likely, the chairman's gave me funds to spend and as i say the squad is very thin so it's more than likely i will be investing in players, yes
Media: You have taken charge at a time when David Wheater and Adam Johnson seem set to leave the club, what are youre chances of keeping hold of youre star players?
Me: David and Adam are definately players i want to keept here, the are top players
Media: Any truth in the rumour that youre interested in signing Cluj forward Yssouf Kone and ex-Real Madrid defender Ivan Helguera?
Me: That's just pure speculation i'm afraid, i have not made contact with any players as of yet
Media: What's the truth in you wanting Gareth Southgate's signings out even after only a few weeks at the club?
Me: Nonsense, everyone will be given a chance. It doesnt matter to me which manager brought them here Gareth Southgate, Steve McClaren or Biggs Bunny it doesnt matter to me, these are my bunch of players now and if there good enough to play for Middlesbrough they will stay, if they are not they will be moved on
Media: Good Luck for the new season Liam!
Me: Thank You
That was that, the press conference was over i could now look forward to bringing in players and getting Pre- Season underway. The Pre Season Fixture list looked like this...
CSKA Sofia (H)
Southend (A)
Darlington (A)
Mantova (A)
AEK Athens (H)
The Transfer Market awaits.....
More Updates to Follow.....
