PROFILE - JOHN COLLINS
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- Clubs Glasgow Celtic (Scotland), Monaco ( France), Everton, Fulham (English Premier League) |
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- Scottish National team 58 Times: Captain of National Team. |
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- 1990 and 1998 World Cup Finals (Scored First Goal of Finals v Brazil
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Q: |
How many years were you a professional? |
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A: |
19 Years and I've been lucky having played all over the World. |
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Q: |
What qualities do you need to become a professional? |
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A: |
First you need good skills.but there are many players with good skills that don't become professional. The essential factors you need are: Focus and sacrifice: I became a pro at 17 years old and I gave up many things ,such as drinking, going out late with my friends. My focus was to take care of my body and I think that's why I had such a long career. I also think you need confidence; often in soccer there are disappointments..Your team can lose ..You can play badly but its players who can turn negative situations into positive feelings that do well. |
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Q: |
What advice have you in particular for small players when they play against bigger opponents |
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A: |
Well, First make sure you are first to the ball. Then use your Shielding skills since opponents will often hesitate to come in incase of a foul and lastly learn to use your arms�feel where you opponent is and also you can use your arms to protect yourself by keeping your opponents at a distance. A straight arm can lengthen the distance between you, your opponent and the ball |
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What was the single philosophy that you used in your professional career? |
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A: |
I had one and that was play EACH game as if it was my last
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| Q: |
You played with Inamoto at Fulham, what did you think about his abilities? |
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Inamoto is a very good professional, his attitude at training and during games was excellent. He is also a very skillful player. I was more impressed with him as an offensive midfielder because he can score goals. |
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| Q: |
In the future you told me you want to Coach, what will be your philosophy? |
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Firstly, I want to Coach teams that can keep possesion of the ball that means all 11 players have good skills. I say 11 because these days Goalkeepers should also have good foot skills, they are now in fact like sweepers I want 11 players not 10 in this system. |
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| Q: |
Who are the Best Players you have played with and against? |
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The best player I played with was Thierry Henri at Monaco. He is the fastest player I have ever seen and can create goals for himself from nothing.
The best player I played against was Zidane when he played for Juventus and the French National team. He is the Complete player: Vision, Skill, can play with both feet and is physically very strong..most of all he always plays for the team not himself. |
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| Q: |
We met when you were 17 years old and we worked together on the Coerver program; how did that help your career? |
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As, I have said many times, I think the Coerver program is the best in the World at improving skills. As a small player, it gave me additional skills that I think made me a much better player. I especially practiced the Changes of Direction which I used more than any skill. |
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