--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was doing all the coaching schools so…" description: "\"I was doing all the coaching schools so that I'd be able to stay in the game, and I gave myself a chance by doing that. I was only an average player, c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/alex-ferguson-2811_able_i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so_1539005.jpg" --- # I was doing all the coaching schools so that I'd be able… ![“I was doing all the coaching schools so that I'd be able to stay in the game, and I gave myself a chance by doing that. I was only an average player, could score a goal or two, that sort of thing, but I wasn't a Bobby Charlton or a Messi, or Ronaldo. There are very, very few really great players…” quote by Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/alex-ferguson-2811_able_i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so_1539005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/alex-ferguson-2811_able_i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so_1539005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/alex-ferguson-2811_able_i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so_1539005.jpg) > “I was doing all the coaching schools so that I'd be able to stay in the game, and I gave myself a chance by doing that. I was only an average player, could score a goal or two, that sort of thing, but I wasn't a Bobby Charlton or a Messi, or Ronaldo. There are very, very few really great players who have become great coaches.” [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great players rarely become great coaches; coaching requires distinct skills beyond playing talent. **In simple terms:** Playing skill ≠ coaching skill. Key Takeaway Develop coaching expertise separately. Themes leadership skill transfer career transition Mood analytical inspirational Type educational motivational When to use this quote - sports teams - youth academies - career change - skill workshops Key Concepts coaching methodology talent development mentorship Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a good coach? - How can players prepare for coaching roles? A Different Perspective Not all players have the aptitude or desire to coach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches/) [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Doing Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-coaching-610250/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Great coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-coach/) [Great Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-coaches/) [Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messi/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Players Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players-great/) [Really great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-great/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/score/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [The advantage of these great players who become great coaches is that they immediately know their moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-laporta/the-advantage-of-these-great-players-who-become-great-coaches-is-that/) [Joan Laporta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-laporta/) > [You have to have great players and great coaches working with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/you-have-to-have-great-players-and-great-coaches-working-with-you/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [I had some great players, great coaches, the best organization in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cowher/i-had-some-great-players-great-coaches-the-best-organization-in/) [Bill Cowher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cowher/) > [I've been really lucky to come up the time I did, to live in California when I did, and to be a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/i-ve-been-really-lucky-to-come-up-the-time-i-did-to-live-in/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I have great players around me. I have a great coach talking to me all the time, constantly teaching me. I feel reborn, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-chandler/i-have-great-players-around-me-i-have-a-great-coach-talking-to-me-all/) [Tyson Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-chandler/) > [I've been lucky enough to be around some great coaches, all the way from Pop Warner to now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-luck/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-be-around-some-great-coaches-all-the-way/) [Andrew Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-luck/) > [I've got a great team behind me, great coaches, and I kind of understand everything that's going on. I know how to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-meerschaert/i-ve-got-a-great-team-behind-me-great-coaches-and-i-kind-of/) [Gerald Meerschaert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-meerschaert/) > [Growing up as an athlete, I started skating very young. My parents didn't know anything about the sport, so they went with the flow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/growing-up-as-an-athlete-i-started-skating-very-young-my-parents-didn/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [It's something pretty special to be coming home and play in the Frozen Four with a great team, great coaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/it-s-something-pretty-special-to-be-coming-home-and-play-in-the/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [A lot of people tell me, 'You need to go here,' or, 'You need to go there.' But I've been around elite coaches all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovince-saint-preux/a-lot-of-people-tell-me-you-need-to-go-here-or-you-need-to-go-there/) [Ovince Saint Preux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovince-saint-preux/) > [I've benefited from great coaches my whole life, starting in sixth grade. To be able to pass that on is a neat experience for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/i-ve-benefited-from-great-coaches-my-whole-life-starting-in-sixth/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [I have played for not just great coaches, but Hall of Fame coaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/i-have-played-for-not-just-great-coaches-but-hall-of-fame-coaches/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [Well, I think I've had the opportunity to be around some great coaches and players. And I have been able to learn a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-taylor/well-i-think-i-ve-had-the-opportunity-to-be-around-some-great-coaches/) [Zac Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-taylor/) > [I feel like I've paid attention to all the great coaches who have coached me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-feel-like-i-ve-paid-attention-to-all-the-great-coaches-who-have/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I come from one of the great coaches - Matt Hume, Brad Kertson - and my skill set is well-rounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-come-from-one-of-the-great-coaches-matt-hume-brad-kertson-and-my/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) ## More by Alex Ferguson > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The lads really ran their socks into the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/the-lads-really-ran-their-socks-into-the-ground/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/sometimes-you-look-in-a-field-and-you-see-a-cow-and-you-think-it-s-a/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/if-i-have-my-health-i-can-carry-on-there-will-be-a-point-when-i-do/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [I'm-A-God-Look-At-Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-m-a-god-look-at-me/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [If my parents were still alive, they would be very proud. They gave me a good start in life, the values that have driven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/if-my-parents-were-still-alive-they-would-be-very-proud-they-gave-me/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [As with every young player these days, Ronaldo is 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/as-with-every-young-player-these-days-ronaldo-is-18/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [I've got a temper if I need it. Nothing wrong with losing your temper, if it's for the right reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-ve-got-a-temper-if-i-need-it-nothing-wrong-with-losing-your-temper/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The credit to them, the better team won and there's nothing we can do about that now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/the-credit-to-them-the-better-team-won-and-there-s-nothing-we-can-do/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/it-was-the-most-emphatic-display-of-selflessness-i-have-seen-on-a/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Her Majesty said she hoped I would have time for my horses - I own two and have shares in four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/her-majesty-said-she-hoped-i-would-have-time-for-my-horses-i-own-two/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [To not apologize for the behavior of the players to another manager is unthinkable. It's a disgrace, but I don't expect Wenger to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/to-not-apologize-for-the-behavior-of-the-players-to-another-manager/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [We have to try to beat Everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/we-have-to-try-to-beat-everyone/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Funnily enough we have never had one enquiry for Paul Scholes. You know why? Because they all know he will never leave. in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/funnily-enough-we-have-never-had-one-enquiry-for-paul-scholes-you/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [You are responsible to each other because when you win a game of football, you only need eight players to perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/you-are-responsible-to-each-other-because-when-you-win-a-game-of/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) [Explore all 149 Alex Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was doing all the coaching schools so that I'd be able to stay in the game, and I gave myself a chance by doing that. I was only an average player, could score a goal or two, that sort of thing, but I wasn't a Bobby Charlton or a Messi, or Ronaldo. There are very, very few really great players who have become great coaches.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Ferguson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so-that-i-d-be-able-to-stay-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so-that-i-d-be-able-to-stay-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/alex-ferguson-2811_able_i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so_1539005.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/alex-ferguson-2811_able_i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so_1539005.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/alex-ferguson-2811_able_i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so_1539005.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was doing all the coaching schools so that I'd be able to stay in the game, and I gave myself a chance by…” — Alex Ferguson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Ferguson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was doing all the coaching...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so-that-i-d-be-able-to-stay-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-was-doing-all-the-coaching-schools-so-that-i-d-be-able-to-stay-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```