Lee Grant on transitioning from a goalkeeper to a coach

Stood between the sticks with Bruno Fernandes and Juan Mata firing free kicks and penalties at him after training at Carrington, Manchester United goalkeeper Lee Grant suddenly felt a wave of uneasiness come over him.

After 24 years in the game and over 500 matches as a full-time professional footballer, this was the last throes of his final session.  

At 39 years old, Grant was clear in his own mind that retirement was the right call and that a move into coaching would be his next step. However, in the moment, there were no guarantees of what was coming next, and it was a scary proposition. 

A year earlier he had been in discussions with Man Utd and former head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about taking up a coaching role, developing younger players at the club, but nothing concrete had materialised.

Taking up the story, Grant says: "As Bruno and Juan were smashing balls at me, I was distracted, thinking to myself, 'Gosh, this is my last time out on the grass with my boots and gloves on, diving around in the mud laughing and joking with team-mates.'  

“I was apprehensive about transitioning from a role I’d loved doing for more than 20 years, but also excited at the proposition of stepping into the unknown and beginning a new journey. 

“When Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna asked if I’d be interested in joining his first-team staff, I was ecstatic and I still am. Getting to carry on being out on the grass with the boys, alongside my fellow coaches, enjoying the camaraderie, is something I love so much."

Planning ahead

For the best part of a decade prior to hanging his gloves up, Grant had planned for a post-playing career in coaching.  

The longer he stayed in football, the more he "appreciated it", so Grant retook the Level 2 badge he never finished as a scholar in his late 20s, and quickly became hooked on learning as much as possible.  

The former Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley 'keeper steadily began to devote more and more of his spare time to working through various coaching courses.

He also invested time to work on his mentality, with a view to forging a post-playing career.  

“During the second half of my playing career, I worked with a sports psychologist, a relationship which has grown into a friendship,” he says.

“Even when I signed for Manchester United and barely played, we still worked together on a weekly and a monthly basis, and that work was with a view to myself becoming a manager one day, creating a good understanding around how, and what I want to do when I get that opportunity.” 

Grant is nearing the completion of his pro license, but as we discuss his journey so far, he is also eager to credit former club Man Utd for helping to fast track his development.

“Towards the end of my days as a player I did spend a lot of time with the analysis team or in the coach's office with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Kieran, picking their brains, and pulling sessions off the hard drive that I could use in my work with the Under 15s," he reveals.  

“United let me train young players at their academy, and the analysis team always left their door open, giving me access to footage of training clips. They gave me a glimpse behind the curtain, showing me what is needed to coach at a high level, which I will always be thankful for.” 

Ahead of the 2022/23 campaign Grant was reunited with McKenna at Ipswich, supporting the new manager alongside assistant boss Martyn Pert and head of analysis Charlie Turnbull.  

While McKenna, one of the most highly respected young coaches in English football, drives the bulk of training sessions and tactical planning, he likes to assign clearly defined roles to his assistants.  

Pert specialises in the defensive unit, Turnbull works extensively with the midfield, leaving Grant as the designated forwards coach.  

“On the outside it probably looks a bit of a strange one for a 'keeper to be coaching strikers but, in reality, it certainly doesn't feel like that for me, and I hope it doesn't for the players,” he says with a smile.

“I spent a long time working on how to stop the ball going into the net, which gives me insights I can pass on to the forwards to help them combat 'keepers’ mindsets. Flipping things around, thinking about it from the opposite angle does make a lot of sense.  

 “I'd like to see more and more goalkeepers realising they've got the potential to go on and do things outside of the realm they exist in. I believe we have plenty to offer as outfield coaches.” 

Working in smaller groups

During the week at various intervals, the Ipswich players split off into separate training units. Here, Grant will design and lead sessions that work on specific aspects of forward play.  

He is also charged with the task of previewing and reviewing each match from a strikers’ perspective, putting on video-analysis meetings, individually and as a group. 

On matchdays, Grant also holds unit meetings at the hotel or training ground, before conducting specific drills with the forwards during the warm-up.  

Just months after being a player himself, the learning curve has been incredibly steep for the 39-year-old, but he believes stepping outside his comfort zone has been a richly rewarding experience.  

“As a player, I was always confident, barking orders, being as much of a leader as possible within the team. Culturally I was more than happy to be that person. 

“Being a coach is so different though. Once you are on this side of the fence, you have people looking to you for very specific answers, or detail around scenarios and that is new to me.  

“Towards the end of my playing career, when I was often on the bench, I started to lose that feeling of being challenged daily, but now I am absolutely on the edge. 

“Just in terms of speaking to the players, being in front of the group, leading a unit meeting, it's all a big area of growth for me. But I'm willing to meet this head on and improve.  

“I work with a group of coaches who are all more experienced than me, and each is superb in their own right. That is great, but it also means I’ve got to be up to scratch. Being stretched gives me a good feeling though.” 

Understanding modern players

Having just stepped out of the dressing room environment, Grant, who has just graduated from the LMA Diploma in Football Management (with a Distinction) is better placed than most to comprehend the mindset of a modern professional.  

“Understanding players and being able to connect with them, getting inside their psyches is incredibly important if you're going to be successful as a manager, and as a leader.  

“I’m sure my age and the fact I’ve only just stopped playing is part of the reason I'm here and why the manager brought me in. I can empathize with them in certain situations, relating to the players in terms of what they're going through, what's happening for them in their careers and their family lives.  

“I think that's important for all coaches to be able to do. I feel like I'm in a good position to help with that side of things, having been in a changing room just seven months ago.

“I enjoy being amongst the group, finding out about them, about what's happening, that's just part of my character. I don't have any problem with that side.  

“I know that I have to separate myself a little from the group now, but not too much because as a coach you have to be authentic to your own personality – and I like connecting with people."

Flying high

Ipswich have been widely praised for their quality football and sophisticated tactical approach this season. They are third in EFL League One, and optimism is high that "the Tractor Boys" can claim one of the two automatic promotion spots and return to the Championship in 2023/24.  

And Grant, could not be happier with the environment he has landed in.  

“The Ipswich Town players have been unbelievable, welcoming me in with open arms. As a group they are wide-eyed, willing to listen, keen to learn and are authentic in what they do.

“That means if we feel the need to go and sit next to one of our players, whether that's somebody from our unit or somebody completely unrelated, we've absolutely got the freedom to go and have a trusted conversation. 

“I actually feel I'd be a better player now if I put my gloves back on than I would have been 10 years ago! This is because the level of understanding and the level of detail we go into here is so good.  

“When you're working with coaches who are this technically proficient, who think about the game as deeply as they do, you can't help but improve.” 

It is easy to see why McKenna felt the former Man Utd 'keeper would be a great asset within his coaching staff.  

Making the next step

But one day, Grant admits he would love to be a No 1 himself, adding to a small but growing band of ex-'keepers who take a step into first-team management.  

“A lot of goalkeepers have that leadership gene, where they love to coach, manage, drive, and really push people on. I've always enjoyed that sort of role, and for a long while I’ve been interested in management. 

“I set out with the goal of being a manager some years ago, so being here at Ipswich is a massively positive step in that journey. 

“When I’ll be ready for it, I don't know, but right now I feel I'm on the right trajectory working under a massively talented and highly regarded young coach who blows my mind on a daily basis.” 

Also in this series

Part 2: Aaron Danks: Understanding your players is invaluable
Part 3: Why big forwards are back in fashion
Part 4: Why corners are on course for record success