Owen Coyle is desperate to sample European football with Bolton next season to further his development.
Bolton manager is looking to broaden his horizons
Owen Coyle is desperate to sample European football with Bolton next season to further his managerial development.
Coyle has transformed the Trotters since taking over as manager just over a year ago and has taken them to the cusp of an FA Cup final.
Bolton face Stoke in the semi-final of the competition next month and a place in the final is likely to be enough to secure a spot in Europe.
Coyle has fond memories of playing against teams from the continent as a player and watching his beloved Celtic as fan in his youth.
Develop
However, he is aware that to develop as a manager, he will need to test himself against the best from the European mainland.
"As a manager you want to push yourselves to the maximum and your players to the maximum and try to get that bit better," he told
The People.
"Something like European football should be cherished. Football is still the same game wherever it is played. You just go up a level and deal with better players.
"But you want that because it makes you better. Some of the players here are capable of playing for any club. And I mean any club."
At 64, Harry Redknapp is enjoying his maiden campaign in the Champions League, and proving age is no barrier when it comes to learning new things.
Coyle has taken heart from the Tottenham manager and is eager to add European football to his blossoming CV.
"European football is great goal for any manager," he added. "Look at Harry Redknapp, he has been a great manager for years but you can see from his face how he is loving the involvement of Champions League.
"Even at this stage of his career he has probably become a better manager for the experience."
