Liverpool icon Luis Garcia has spoken of his ambition to become a manager in the future, opening up on the influences that have helped push him toward a coaching career.
Currently working as a football analyst for ESPN and as a La Liga ambassador, Garcia revealed he had recently acquired his UEFA pro licence – which is the highest coaching qualification in Europe.
While the 44-year-old will not be looking for a head coach role in the immediate future, he spoke of the path he wants to take to football club management.
“I want to get ready [for a professional coaching position],” Garcia told media during a La Liga launch event.
“I want to give myself a couple of years. I want to talk to different managers. I want to be involved a little more and then I will see what happens.”
Garcia’s distinguished playing career, which included winning a Champions League at Liverpool in 2004-05, and stints at the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have shaped his desire to move into coaching.
The silky-skilled winger revealed his Reds boss Rafael Benetiz was the manager to first get him thinking about football from a tactical point of view.
And his work as a pundit over the last few years had made him realise how much his mind was aligned with coaching.
“I think when you retire, the first thing you think of is possibly becoming a coach – to continue working in the game,” Garcia said.
“The biggest influence in my coaching journey was Rafa Benitez. He was the coach who helped me more to understand football, taught me more about how to play in different positions, to play ahead on the field and how to approach every single game.
“I’m working very hard on TV at the moment – I’m enjoying very much what I’m doing on ESPN at the moment.
“When you have finished getting your coaching licence, you start to watch a football match and think what you would do if you were coaching in that match – ‘What are they doing, they are not doing this right’.
“That is something that has changed. Before I used to watch a game and think, ‘Oh that was very nice, what a match, oh great goal’.
“But now I’m watching more games and I’m starting to analyse it a lot more and see different things.”