Tuesday 2 June 2015 13:07, UK
David Platt will be a smash hit in India as manager of Super League side FC Pune City, according to club president Gaurav Modwel.
The former Manchester City assistant will take the reins at Pune in his first coaching role since leaving the Etihad in 2013 following boss Roberto Mancini's departure from the club.
“I think David will have a very strong impact on Indian football especially at the stage of growth it is in. I’m sure the players and the fans will love him,” Modwel told Sky Sports.
“Once we got into dialogue with David it became apparent to us he was the guy we’d like to go for. When we got into conversations beyond his experience and credentials we could see his desire to make a significant contribution to the football revolution that is happening in this country.
“He's been there, he's done it and he's won things. He's not just taking this role for the heck of it and he's not looking at this from a monetary point of view or in terms of a new life experience.
“He was very clear about wanting to understand our vision and our philosophy and that is 'live to win'. We live to win trophies and we live to win the hearts of the fans.”
He's been there, he's done it and he's won things. He's not just taking this role for the heck of it and he's not looking at this from a monetary point of view or in terms of a new life experience.
As a player, Platt turned out for clubs including Arsenal, Juventus, Sampdoria and Aston Villa, commanding in excess of £20m worth of transfer fees during his career.
Platt has also managed Nottingham Forest and England's U21s and Modwell revealed the 48-year-old was a 'natural choice' to succeed Italian Franco Colombo as Pune's new manager.
“We had a long list of criteria and prerequisites we were looking for in a manager and after meeting David and going through his credentials he almost self-selected himself,” Modwel said.
“We wanted someone who had played at the very highest level, someone who has leadership skills and is inspirational and someone who has managed youth.
“We were looking for someone young and articulate, who can interact with the local fan groups and the media, and someone who has experience of working with international players.
“It's not easy to find all of that in someone all of 48 years old who has captained England, managed England U21s and worked with players of the calibre of Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and other big name players
“He’s inquisitive, he has quickly studied Indian football and it became a very natural choice for us to go for him.”
