Just last year, Rhys McCabe was being linked with top jobs all around the country. Despite his management inexperience, the 34-year-old had his Airdrieonians side producing attractive football and led them to a Challenge Cup victory and Championship Play-Off place.
Now, after thirteen months out of the game to “recharge the batteries”, the former Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder is keen to get his teeth sunk into his new challenge as Scotland Under 16s boss.
“I’m excited – youth development is something I have been passionate about for a number of years. Once I had the conversations and saw the vision of what was going to be in-store it seemed like something really exciting to be a part of.”
At just 29-years-old, McCabe took the reins at Airdrie for a largely successful period, introducing many young players to the first-team fold at Championship level such as Ben Stanway, Chris Mochrie, Kanayo Megwa and Justin Devenny. During his three-season spell at The Diamonds he maintained an average squad age of 23, highlighting his enthusiasm for youth development.
However, he still holds on to the belief that he was “thrown in at the deep end” in his former job and looks forward to having the space to learn and grow in this National Youth Team Coaching position.
“There’s a lot of personal development I am looking forward to doing first-hand, working with the likes of Sebastien and the guys who have been about the game at different levels. Ultimately, I am going to channel that to make me a better coach and a better person.”
“Do I think I’m there yet? Absolutely not – but I’ve got the chance to be alongside guys who have fifteen to twenty years of experience on me.”
“It’s time to learn and pave my own way. What that looks like a bit longer term is a conversation for another day. But in terms of the now, a lot of the values and criteria of the association are very aligned with my thought process.”
The ex-Scotland Under 21 midfielder’s career was a winding path through many different levels of the game. Having started at Rangers in 2011, he played in some big ties against Celtic and Heart of Midlothian before making the move across the border to Sheffield Wednesday. After a short spell at Portsmouth, he returned to Scotland with Dunfermline Athletic where he won a League One title. He followed that up with two years in the Republic of Ireland before finishing his career in the Scottish lower leagues.
McCabe knows the game and society as a whole has changed a lot since he was a young player breaking through. However, he is confident his experiences can resonate and, in-turn, benefit his group of young players whilst also tabling the hard truths of youth football in front of them.
“I’m probably the last of the ‘old-school generation’ as they call it, but I have sat there as a 15-year-old desperate to make my way into a first-team environment and be selected for my country.”
“Of course, we want to create these opportunities for players to break into first teams but ultimately you have to be good enough. This is the part I need to be really clear on – there are no token gestures.”
“We don’t want to just throw out minutes to young players just because it is on the agenda at the minute. We are genuinely passionate about the quality of our teams and improving individuals.”
“We are all fighting towards the same goal – to make the product here in Scotland better.”
McCabe’s first Under 16s camp started this week, where he will be assisted by experienced Scottish FA coaches James Grady and Stephen Clarke. Alongside this, Grady and Clarke will also continue their roles with the Under 14s and Under 15s Scotland teams but under an exciting new SFA-led programme.
