Former Chelsea youth player and self-confessed Chelsea fan Stephen Bradley, the current manager of Shamrock Rovers, has expressed his admiration for Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea. Bradley who'll be facing Maresca in an important Conference League match has been impressed with the direction Maresca has taken the squad in.
A win for Shamrock Rovers against Chelsea will seal their spot in the Conference League last 16. However it's evident that Bradley has kept his eyes on the London-based club. As a former youth player, Bradley's life in football has been marked by ambition. Although his stint as a player did not take off as expected Bradley instead took an interest in learning the managerial side of the game.
Bradley's move into Shamrock Rovers was strategic as the Irish league saw numerous changes in management over the years with many others moving to another leagues both regionally and locally throughout the globe. Considering Shamrock Rovers current success under Bradley the exChelsea youth player is living the dream.
Beyond victory, Bradley's knowledge of Chelsea's present and past has always influenced his selection and use in playing style, management techniques as well as communication skills that have long-lasting impact on every team on a regular basis.
The link between Bradley's managerial ambitions and Enzo Maresca's tactics as Chelsea's present manager also adds interesting twist to the upcoming Conference League match, despite Bradley singing praises over a Chelsea revival that has hit rough patch recently with narrow home losses in previous games.
Bradley's praises of Maresca might not totally be from a friendship perspective. One key factor could be related to their playing and managing stints in England. Although Bradley’s Chelsea stint is as a youth team player Maresca similarly started in minor Italian clubs in taking up managerial positions but went further and got Chelsea job as the topflight manager for the English football team.