A humble and ambitious up and coming Australian coach Jordan Manning has been named the second assistant and head analyst for the Wellington Phoenix men’s team.
However, it wasn’t smooth sailing in the beginning after rupturing his ACL while playing football but in a way it was a blessing in disguise to re-evaluate his career options.
Starting out as a coach, then S&C and now becoming an analyst to recently commencing his pro coaching licence course, an impressive career thus far for Manning and by using the momentum of success to set new and higher objectives, an individual as diligent as he is will undoubtedly achieve a lot more than planned.
In a wide-ranging chat with Soccerscene, Jordan Manning discusses his career up until now, the barriers of being involved in different environments overseas, the challengers of doing the pro license, and the attributes of being a great coach.
Tell us a bit about your coaching career.
Jordan Manning: So l ruptured my ACL in year 12 and it was unfortunate at the time because l was playing and loved the game, but probably a good one for me where it allowed me to reassess what l needed to do. l really focused on school with my studies as a result of my injury. Completing my rehab in year 12 is probably what led me down the path of sport science and strength & conditioning to begin with.
I attended ACU and completed my Bachelor of Exercise Sports Science, a three year degree during which time l picked up some work as a U18 coach at the club l made my ACL return with, so that was really my start from there. I was at a club in the NPL from Queensland called Western Pride and it was a very successful program at the time. There was a lot of players in the first team group progressing on to play professionally or be in professional environments, including our Head Coach and my first coaching mentor, Graham Harvey.
At the end of 2018, l was identified by Brisbane Roar and moved into the U16s as a coach for the academy side at the time, which was a great experience. At the end of that season, there was a large change over at the Roar and Warren Moon came in to be the Academy Technical Director. With me having finished my Sports Science degree, he encouraged me to go in the role of High Performance of the Academy. At the time, we had COVID in our first year together which was a big job for me in that role to be working together with Warren to help keep everyone fit during a very challenging period.
Redlands United was an NPL team at that time and their Head Coach stepped away due to the impact of COVID on the club and Graham Harvey gave me the opportunity to be the first team coach during that season. It was a big challenge with no budget and half a team being tasked with keeping the side in the league but it’s by far one of my most enjoyable memories in football.
At the end of that season I moved to Peninsula Power on the recommendation of Mooney and had some wonderful times there winning the NPL in 2021. During this time Warren had moved up into the first team at the Roar, and the first team Sports Science role became available so he managed things really well for me at Power and l was able to transition out and move across to the Roar to be the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the 2022/23 season. At the halfway point, l was also made Analyst, so again very full on. However, having my A license and just completed my masters in Sports Coaching it was another good progression for me to have the dual role and be able to do both things.
Then l had an opportunity to go into Asia with Hyderabad FC in India which for me was such a great personal experience, different culture it’s very outside of what l have been used to and what l have experienced so l was there for six months before the club ran into some difficulties.
Luckily for me the opportunity came up to move to Buriram United around January/February time with Arthur Papas so l moved there and completed last season, we were fortunate enough to win the Thai League which was exciting to win my first professional trophy. Now I’m with the Phoenix and really enjoying working with Chief (Giancarlo Italiano), Adam Griffiths and Ruben Parker here.
What influenced your decision to go into coaching?
Jordan Manning: l had always thought about coaching and always felt like my brain worked a bit quicker than my feet, l was a good player but l wasn’t the best so l always had plans to go down that pathway but then l ruptured my ACL a second time when l was 21 and that was the moment l thought ‘right l love the game l still want to be around the game l need to find another way to do that’ so for me that’s where coaching, sports science and analysis are three different avenues that all kept me in the game that l love.
What have you realised in the coaching environments overseas compared to Australia?
Jordan Manning: I think there is a big change with understanding different footballing cultures and different languages, that was a big change for me having to adjust to that. In Australia we have a lot of cultures and it is a very multicultural country but the experiences we have are probably a bit watered down compared to living in other environments, so seeing that side of things first hand was a big eye-opener.
Also understanding the different level of resources that some of the clubs have available. Asia has some really great players, coaches and owners that have a large resource base to really help them deliver top level footballing programs which we might not always recognise in Australia. Everywhere has its strengths and weaknesses but there is definitely pieces there that were challenging for me but then also other pieces that would positively challenge the way we do things in Australia.
What have been some barriers being involved in different environments overseas?
Jordan Manning: I think the first part is the language because in Thailand we had three translations going on at once, which was an interesting challenge to obviously walk into and see firsthand how the different ways of that being managed. During my time with Buriram we had three different coaches in a four month period so l got to see a different set of applications around the language barriers. Then, also being an Australian coach, there is always a big perception overseas that we are very good in the strength and conditioning side of things and the sports science aspect of it but people question our footballing knowledge.
It takes time but through little actions demonstrating what you know and how you want to help everyone with the different cultures working together you slowly get there. l think as Australians we have that determination and grit wanting to work with people, so we always find a way to make it work but it is just having the patience to work through those difficulties at the start and show them that you are there to help and benefit them as well.
You mentioned you are doing a Pro License in Australia, what have been the challenges of doing that certificate?
Jordan Manning: To be honest it’s been a really good challenge, they’ve got all sorts of modules and content that are different than the C, B, and A licenses, there is a lot more leadership, business and management side of things which has been really cool. They throw different challenges at you in terms of your on-field practice and understanding that you’ve got that base knowledge now, and trying to challenge you there bits and pieces that you do come across. l think for me you’re very much a product of your experiences and being on the course hearing other top coaches experiences has been really enjoyable.
What would be your approach to player development?
Jordan Manning: l think it’s case by case basis, everyone has got their own way of how they take on board information and they learn, you’ve got to understand the individual. You need to understand what they do and don’t like, and then try to tailor your approach to help each person to be the best they can and help form that connection. If they understand that you’re there to work with them and help them along the way I believe that will also help you in being the best version of yourself as a coach.
As a second assistant and head analyst for Wellington Phoenix, what exactly do they involve?
Jordan Manning: From the off-field side of things it’s the preparation of watching the opposition, doing scouting reports, putting together presentations, working with Chief who is a very intelligent coach and has a great eye for detail. So helping as best as l can to help present pictures to his words and ideas whilst always learning along the way.
It also involves training reviews, match previews and then on-field components working with Adam Griffiths. Under Chiefs guidance we lead activities together and bounce off each other and manage the flow of information delivery along the way. Griffs is such a top operator to work with he is also teaching me so much with his philosophies.
What do you think are some attributes of being a great coach?
Jordan Manning: I think the most important piece is being a good person. As part of this, I think you’ve got to be a really good people person and understand that each individual is different through your emotional intelligence. I think its important you have a very good level of knowledge but you are a teacher at the end of the day and have to adapt the way that you look to communicate that knowledge.
There is a range of ways you can approach it to appeal to the different learning types but you have always got to work with them rather than just telling them what to do, I think that’s a really important one.
Another big one is you have got to have resilience, it’s not easy at times there is a lot of difficulties along the way, external factors you have to manage and be aware of because coaching is a lonely world sometimes.
What is your biggest aspiration?
Jordan Manning: I want to be the best that l can be and reach the highest level that l can, l just want to make sure day-to-day l am the best version of myself and l provide the best level of assistance to those that l am working for, if l can be a problem solver and can look after different areas and be someone people enjoy working with.
Lastly, inspiring words for upcoming coaches?
Jordan Manning: It is important you are patient with what you do, and make sure you are multi-skilled, l think in the modern game you need to have an understanding of everything along the way as you make that progression forward so that you have the skills when you get to the levels that you want to get to.
Hard work is the foundation because you don’t get anything without it and have got that resilience and the rest will take care of itself, as well as always being a good person. Football is a game that rewards hard work.
