Yorke open to managing Indian clubs

"I am ready for the transition from former player to manager. Yes, I am very keen of managing a club. I want to be a manager one day. I have heard about ISL and given a chance I would not mind coaching one of the leading clubs in India," said he.

 

Yorke, who was in city on a promotional tour for Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited, said he was keen on managing a club either at home (England) or anywhere else or even in India. 

 

Yorke had recently offered to manage Aston Villa, a club where he played his trade for a decade, stating that he may not like Championship League in England but he knew how to guide a club from Championship to the Premier League, as he did with Sunderland.

 

Aked about Manchester United this year, he said: "Manchester United now has a fantastic manager in Jose Mourinho. He has the passion and skills to take the club back to its winning ways. We have a more balanced side this season and I am sure the players also want to win the Premiere League once again. They are playing in Europe too. I am hoping that Jose will give the team a star turn."

 

"Premiere league has several strong side like Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal. It is almost like a fairy tale how Leicester City won the league and how well they manged their resources. All of these will be factors in deciding who wins the league this time. But the kind of team that Manchester United is building and under the guidance of Jose (Mourhino) I am sure they will e back as a contender," 

 

The bane for the Red Devils for the last two seasons have been the lack of fire power.  They have failed to score and that has showed. This year with the arrival of Zlatan Ibramovic in addition to Antony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Wayene Rooney many are hopeful. Yorke echoed the positivity: "With Ibra along with Martial and Rooney, Manchester will certainly have the attacking line-up. But so will other clubs. But I hope they will be at the top of their game."

 

The discussions veered to the topic of  Sir Alex Ferguson. One of his favourite memories of Sir Alex goes back to the day the two met. 

 

"He (Sir Alex Ferguson) not only had an eye for the best players but his man management skills always helped bring the best out of the players. When I had joined the club I was already a good player. But he made me a better player."

 

"On my first visit to Old Trafford, he told me that I was there because history behind the club deserves the best. When you play, you are not only playing for yourselves or your family, but for Manchester United."

 

On his career highlights, he said, " When I joined the club I wanted to win trophies. But the way we won the Champions League in 1999 in the dying minutes.. it’s crazy. We won the league 10 days before. Seven days after that we got FA Cup. And then we were back in Camp Nou within three days fighting for what is considered, outside the World Cup, the biggest prize in world football. We were out to create history. We were aware that that’s something we never won and didn’t want to let that opportunity pass. We had that believe in us."

 

"Sir Alex (Ferguson) made two crucial substitutions in the final few minutes. Obviously winning the trophy in that manner has to be the greatest point of my career," said he.

 

Asked if there was anything that he thought he had not achieved, he said: "I have had prolific phases at Manchester United and Aston Villa. I am very fortunate as a player to have got so much. I have no regrets. The biggest moment was playing world cup football for my country. You know Trinidad and Tobago with only 1.3 million population is the smallest island country to have taken part in the Word Cup and to be a part of that side means a lot."

 

"There is nothing that I am disappointed about. But yes maybe if I was today I think given an opportunity I would have done a thing or two differently," said he.

 

On his love for cricket and West Indies team, he said: "You know Brian Lara is my best friend. And I watch cricket a lot. Tests, one-day and IPL , I am updated with all. WI may have lost the first test againts India, but they are a very talented side and very difficult to beat in the 25 an 50 overs They have won the U-19, women's and senior T20 world cups and that is no mean feat. I am sure the players will soon find their feet in Test cricket too."

 

"I congratulate the Indian team for winning the first Test. But i am sure the home team will come back strongly," said he.