Several years ago, former Liverpool manager Joe Fagan was asked about his approach to dealing with the press, and his response was simple: “Well, that’s easy – I just tell them the truth.”
This brings us to Graham Alexander, the current Bradford City manager. While he may not be in the same managerial league as the legendary “Mr. Liverpool,” his straightforward honesty and clear communication, both with the media and, more importantly, with his players, have garnered him respect during his brief tenure with the club.
Despite the team’s recent decent results, Alexander remains grounded, acknowledging that it’s only the beginning. He emphasizes the importance of consistency in his communication, stating, “If I was saying one thing publicly and a different thing in the changing room or at the training ground, the comments wouldn’t mean anything to the players – they would think I was a fraud.”
For Alexander, transparency is key. His public statements mirror his messages to the players, creating a sense of authenticity. He expresses a desire for his team to adopt a positive mindset, approaching every match with the intention to win. This philosophy is not a facade but a genuine reflection of his character: “How I talk to the press is how I talk to the players, it’s how I talk in the changing room. I want my team to be positive. We want to play in a positive way, go to every opponent and show, ‘we’re here to win’… It’s not an act. It’s how I genuinely am.”
Known as a players’ player during his playing career, with over 1,000 games to his name, Alexander appears to have seamlessly transitioned into a players’ manager in his coaching career. His managerial approach is rooted in common sense and draws from his experiences as a successful player. He reflects on his own preferences as a player, stating, “I try to manage my team how I wanted to be managed. It might be the wrong way, but it feels right to me. I believe in these players, and I want them to believe in each other that they can succeed.”
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