In the latest installment of 'Andy Lee Meets', the former world champion boxer sat down with an icon of Irish soccer and the former international manager, Brian Kerr.
Throughout a frank discussion on his progression as a coach to the highest possible position in Irish football, Brian Kerr is not shy in acknowledging his insecurities.
A champion of domestic football and the underage international scene, in 2003, he was entrusted to replace Mick McCarthy as manager of the Republic of Ireland senior team. Although he had been successful with the likes of Damien Duff, Robbie Keane and Richard Dunne at underage level, questions surrounded whether or not he would succeed at senior level.
Sitting across from a retired world champion boxer who had his own doubts about stepping in at short notice to work with a fighter of Tyson Fury's capabilities earlier this year, Andy Lee could empathise with Kerr's own concerns.
The latest individual to sit down with Lee for 'Andy Lee Meets' in association with SEAT, Brian Kerr recalled the challenges that awaited him when he took charge of Ireland.
29 March 2005; Republic of Ireland's Roy Keane in conversation with manager Brian Kerr before coming on as a second half substitute. International Friendly, Republic of Ireland v China, Lansdowne Road, Dublin Picture credit; Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE"Oh yeah, oh yeah," he responded to the question if he had ever doubted his ability as a football manager, "and I think anyone who says that they don't have some doubts about themselves is probably lying a bit.
"I've always questioned what I was doing, have always questioned whether my methods are right and whether I'm making the right decisions. As a manager and a coach then, I think that's why I've always been a listener and more than happy to surround myself with people who I felt were better than me at loads of things.
"It wouldn't be to the extent that I was jealous of them, I would be admiring them."
In the aftermath of the 2002 World Cup, the events in Saipan and Roy Keane's premature retirement, Kerr replaced manager Mick McCarthy after the qualifying campaign for Euro 2004 got off to a shaky start.
The new 'Andy Lee Meets..' catches up with Brian Kerr! 🇮🇪@AndyLeeBoxing@SEAT_cars_IRL #AllnewSEATLeonhttps://t.co/QnegIersFi
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Although he would eventually tempt Keane back into the international fold, Kerr recalled adapting to a scenario whereby the quality of player he was working with had never been higher. For one as introspective as he about his coaching methods, it required careful planning and consideration.
"I wasn't bad in so far as I could show you how to pass a ball or curl it," he remarked of his own prowess with a ball at his feet, "but I wasn't going to try and show Roy how to pass it between two guys who are less than socially distanced apart when a game is being played at 90 mph.
"I wasn't going to try and show Robbie Keane how to finish in the box when he's being marked by two giant centre-backs. What I could do is set up practices that allowed him to test himself to almost game speed."
To compensate for what he may have lacked in this regard, Kerr understood the importance of having strong people around him who possessed a range of skills.
"I had Chris Hughton with me then who was one of the great full-backs of the game in his time," he explained of one of his coaching additions. "He could show our full-backs how to play as a full-back.
"I could show them positioning and where I'd like them to be relative to other players on the pitch, but he would be better at showing body position, shape and how you should shape up in a one-on-one against a fast, tricky winger.
"It is important to be aware of that and not to be a Spoofer trying to show fellas something you can't really show them."
7 June 2005; Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr with Damien Duff, left, and Kenny Cunningham, during a press conference after squad training.Torsvollur Stadium, Torshavn, Faroe Islands. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / SPORTSFILEDespite his best intentions, Kerr's tenure in charge lasted a little over two years; only Steve Staunton had a shorter run of it since John Giles became the first manager in the modern understanding of the term in the early 1970s.
Although he went on to enjoy a respectable spell as national team manager of the Faroe Islands thereafter, a full-time coaching role has been hard to come by for Kerr.
"I haven't had an opportunity that attracted me over the last few years," he admitted, "but I would like to have a go again at running a team. I do enjoy what I'm doing though and this opportunity to work in the media, going to matches and to have to keep studying the game, it is marvelous.
"But I still thoroughly enjoy coaching. Any little bit of it I ever get to do, no matter what level, I love it. Being in the dressing-room, on the sideline of a pitch ... the buzz you get."
Andy Lee Meets on OTB Sports is in association with the all-new SEAT Leon, the brands' first fully connected car.
You can listen to the podcast on the OTB Podcast Network here.
