Former Premier League manager Mick McCarthy has explained how one piece of advice from Leeds United hero Allan Clarke changed the course of his football career.
Mick McCarthy grew up as a Leeds United fan, having spent his childhood in nearby Barnsley and watched the famous Leeds side under Don Revie.
The former Republic of Ireland manager broke into the first-team squad at Barnsley in the late 1970s when legendary Leeds figure Allan “Sniffer” Clarke was in charge.
Clarke would go on to manage Leeds after his time at Barnsley, but he took them down into the Second Division in 1982 as the club struggled to rebuild following the end of the Revie Era.
Now, former Premier League manager McCarthy has explained how one piece of advice from Clarke changed the trajectory of his career, as he went on to play more than 500 games.
Allan Clarke of Leeds United
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Mick McCarthy reveals Allan Clarke influence
Speaking on the Woody Unscripted podcast, Mick McCarthy explained how an initially frustrating conversation with Clarke made him reassess his priorities as a player.
According to McCarthy, Clarke had urged him to simplify his game and focus on winning the ball and passing it to a better player. Although this upset him at first, the Yorkshireman credits it with playing a significant role in his success.
McCarthy explained: “I was told as a kid. A young pro, Allan Clarke, who I loved as a player because I was a Leeds fan. He played for Leeds. And he came as the manager, my second manager.
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“And under my first couple of years, I’d been, you know, sort of lauded a little bit that I was a good player. Only 18, just going to the team. They love the young ones coming through. And I thought I could play.
“And he turned up and he said to me, I’ve got some advice for you. He said, head it, kick it, take it off the opposition and give it to somebody who can play.
“For a while, I was really annoyed by that. 12 months later, I realised it was the best piece of advice I’d ever been given.”
Mick McCarthy looks on during Blackpool v Cardiff City - Sky Bet Championship
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Leeds United nearly appointed Mick McCarthy
Ultimately, Clarke’s advice to McCarthy proved vital in shaping his playing career, before he became famous for his straight-talking style as a manager.
However, despite his affinity for the club, McCarthy never played for Leeds United or led them as a manager when his playing career was over.
According to a report from Sky Sports in 2018, McCarthy was one of the frontrunners to replace Paul Heckingbottom as the club struggled to follow up their promotion charge under Garry Monk the previous year.
But that move never came about as the Whites appointed Marcelo Bielsa, and the course of the club’s history changed overnight.