Prioritise health, fitness, ex-Bournemouth coach tells young football managers

Former Bournemouth manager Tony Pulis Photo: Web

Former Bournemouth manager Tony Pulis has urged football managers to prioritise their health and fitness, warning that the demands of the profession can take a serious physical and mental toll.

According to BBC Sport on Friday, Pulis gave the advice following Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany’s recent health scare, which he said highlighted the dangers associated with the pressures of football management.

Kompany collapsed at Bayern Munich’s training ground, with the cause identified as meningeal irritation, an inflammation of the protective membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Pulis, who began his managerial career at Bournemouth in 1992, said he only fully understood the demands of the job after becoming a manager, having previously worked as a player and coach.

Reflecting on his early managerial days, he admitted that he paid little attention to his personal wellbeing while concentrating on the responsibilities of running a football club.

“In the early days, my management of myself personally was really poor,” he said.

He explained that his busy schedule often meant relying on unhealthy meals while travelling to watch potential signings.

“At that time I would be driving up and down the motorway to watch players, trying to find a fish and chip shop or fuelled only by a half-time pie or a sandwich from a local shop,” he recalled.

The former manager said the pressure of delivering results also affected his wellbeing, particularly when his teams struggled and criticism increased.

However, a conversation with an Australian triathlete shortly before leaving Bournemouth in 1994 changed his attitude towards personal fitness.

The athlete warned him that the demands of his job were affecting his physical condition and that the accompanying stress could have serious consequences for his health.

Pulis said he subsequently decided to make exercise a priority in his next managerial appointment.

“I came to the conclusion that in my next job, if I got one, I would dedicate myself to a more manageable lifestyle and put my own fitness first,” he said.

He introduced a routine of exercising early every morning before breakfast, allowing him to concentrate on his football responsibilities for the rest of the day.

While managing Gillingham in 1999, Pulis also took part in his first London Marathon, which marked the beginning of several charity challenges.

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His other activities included cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and rowing from Tower Bridge to the Eiffel Tower.

According to Pulis, regular exercise helped him manage stress and improve his sleeping habits.

He also highlighted the importance of family time in maintaining a healthy balance between his professional and personal life.

He said Sundays were reserved for spending time with his family, describing the routine as an important way of switching off from football.

“That was how I relaxed and that day with them became a release valve which was an important part of my routine,” he said.

Pulis also revealed that he avoided reading media reports about himself and his teams, whether positive or negative, while relying on trusted members of his coaching staff for support.

He urged young managers to adopt similar habits, warning that neglecting personal health could be dangerous under the constant pressure of the profession.

“You have to maintain your enthusiasm for looking after yourself, because this is the time when you will need it the most. Under the constant stress you will put yourself under, it is dangerous not to,” he said.

The former manager acknowledged that support for football coaches had improved considerably over the years.

He cited the League Managers’ Association’s ‘Fit To Manage’ programme, which provides regular health assessments, and noted that club medical teams now pay greater attention to the wellbeing of coaching staff.

Pulis, however, observed that football management could still be a lonely profession, despite the increased support available.

He said the assistance provided to managers today was on a different level compared with when he began his career.