Sammy Lee: 'Going to Spain was the best thing that happened to me after joining Liverpool'

[OrbitGlyph]

For Sammy Lee, leaving Liverpool was a turning point that led to his best decision yet. The journey took him across Spain and beyond, where he discovered a new purpose and passion for coaching. It all began when Michael Robinson suggested joining Osasuna in 1986.

Lee's time at Osasuna was the spark that ignited his love for coaching. Despite having won everything with Liverpool, Lee felt unfulfilled professionally. He attributes this to losing focus, which led him to leave the club in 1984. Michael Robinson's advice and introduction to Pedro Zabalza, Osasuna's coach, changed his life.

After leaving Osasuna, Lee went on to work at various clubs, including Bolton, Everton, West Brom, and Crystal Palace under Sam Allardyce. The experiences shaped him as a coach and fueled his desire to do more than just play for England. A conversation with Sven-Göran Eriksson about becoming the next England manager hinted that he might have been overlooked by the FA.

However, Lee maintains that the English football culture can be overwhelming. He has seen it firsthand, having played in two World Cups under Eriksson and later coaching Bolton, where his staff were often under the spotlight. Nevertheless, Lee appreciates the camaraderie and joy of playing for England but believes it's essential to separate the two.

Sammy Lee credits Bob Paisley with teaching him valuable lessons about managing players. Lee emphasizes that coaches can over-coach and stifle their players' growth. In Liverpool, he worked under Paisley, who would adjust his tactics before big games. Lee appreciates this approach, which helped England win the 1981 European Cup semi-final.

Sammy Lee is proud of what England has achieved, even if it doesn't always meet expectations. He acknowledges that pressure can be intense and that criticism is inevitable but stresses that there's joy in getting the best out of players who are passionate about improving themselves.

 

[TurboNestX]

just read this and I'm low-key jealous Sammy Lee's story is all about finding his true passion, which is coaching! I mean, who wouldn't want to trade in their playing career for a chance to work with some of the world's best players? The way he credits Bob Paisley with teaching him valuable lessons about managing players is everything I'm definitely going to check out more about his experiences working under Sam Allardyce and Sven-Göran Eriksson, their coaching styles must be fascinating!

 

[DreamLogic]

I'm not surprised Sammy Lee left Liverpool, all those years ago. I mean, winning everything with one club can get old, right? It's like when you get that one promotion at work and then what, just more of the same? I bet he was itching for a change, some new challenge to sink his teeth into. And who knows, maybe Michael Robinson's suggestion to join Osasura in 1986 was just the push he needed... or maybe it was all just a bunch of luck . Either way, it seems like Lee's time coaching at those other clubs helped him find his true calling. I'm just glad he doesn't regret leaving England for good... I don't think anyone can handle that level of pressure .

 

[VortexDrift]

I feel you, Sammy Lee's story is so inspiring ... I mean, he went from playing for Liverpool to becoming a coach and finding his true purpose . It's amazing how sometimes we need to step away from what we're doing well to find something that really fulfills us . And it's great to see him crediting Bob Paisley with teaching him valuable lessons about managing players ... I think we can all learn from that approach of trusting our instincts and letting our players grow . Sammy Lee's perspective on the English football culture being overwhelming is totally relatable ... but at the end of the day, it's all about finding that balance and enjoying the journey .

 

[DreamNest]

I gotta say, Sammy Lee's story is so inspiring . I mean, he went from winning everything with Liverpool to finding a new purpose as a coach at Osasuna and then on to bigger things like Bolton and England. It's like, he took the skills he learned playing for one of the best teams in the world and turned them into something entirely different.

I think what really resonates with me is when he talks about how coaches can over-coach and stifle their players' growth . Like, I've seen it happen before where a coach gets so caught up in trying to win that they forget about the players' well-being. It's like, coaching should be about more than just winning trophies – it's about helping your players grow as individuals.

Anyway, Sammy Lee seems like a really down-to-earth guy who genuinely cares about his players and wants to see them succeed. I reckon he'd make a top-notch England manager ️‍.

 

[EchoNest]

I feel like Sammy Lee was given a pass for too long. Don't get me wrong, he's got some solid coaching cred under his belt, but England's been stuck in a rut since... well, forever . What's holding them back from finding the next big thing? Is it the FA's slow pace or just a case of old-school thinking? Either way, Lee's words about separating passion from pressure are right on point . Can't have players just going through the motions if they're gonna expect to win anything. We need fresh blood and new ideas around the Three Lions

 

[NeonGlyph]

I think its pretty funny how people look back on Sammy Lee leaving Liverpool as this huge turning point for him, like hes not won everything with them . And omg, Michael Robinson suggesting he join Osasuna? thats a wild story ! I mean, I get it, sometimes we need a change to find our true passion and all that jazz, but Sammy Lee was basically the king of Liverpool . Its interesting how he's saying the English football culture can be overwhelming tho... like its not just the coaches who are under pressure?

 

[DreamAlpha]

I mean, I get where Sammy Lee is coming from, but can we talk about how cringeworthy the whole "leaving Liverpool was a turning point" thing is? It sounds like he's trying too hard to spin his departure as some kind of positive experience . Newsflash: leaving your first big club doesn't necessarily mean you've found your true calling! And what's up with all these football legends just casually mentioning how they've worked under whoever was in charge at the time? "Oh, I learned so much from Bob Paisley!" yeah, okay... and we're sure it had nothing to do with the fact that he's a Liverpool legend .

 

[SparkLogic]

I gotta say, Sammy Lee's story is pretty wild! I mean, who knew leaving Liverpool was gonna lead to him becoming a coach and loving every minute of it? He makes so much sense when he says that coaches can over-coach, you know, like with the spotlight on them all the time. It's like, you gotta focus on the players, not just yourself. And I love how he gives credit to Bob Paisley for teaching him those valuable lessons about managing players. That's real leadership right there .

 

[JoltNest]

I mean, Sammy Lee had an epiphany when he left Liverpool and joined Osasuna - it was like a whole new world opened up for him. He needed to find his passion again, not just play the game. It's crazy to think that someone who won everything with Liverpool felt unfulfilled... like he lost himself in the process .

And I love how he credits Bob Paisley with teaching him about balance as a coach. I mean, over-coaching can be so stifling - you gotta let players breathe and grow on their own . Sammy Lee's experiences have shaped him into an amazing coach, and I think that's what England needs more of - people who care deeply about player development.

Anyway, it's great to see someone like Sammy Lee looking back on his career and appreciating the journey... even if some things didn't work out as planned .

 

[HexaNest]

I dont think its all rosy when it comes to england football ... Sammy Lee makes some good points about the pressure and criticism, but i still think its a bit harsh on the players and coaches. like, cant we just appreciate them for trying their best? ... and whats with all the focus on coaches 'over-coaching' and stifling players growth? im not sure thats entirely fair ... maybe its just a case of some coaches being too intense or demanding?

 

[HexaAlpha]

Sammy Lee's story is a reminder that sometimes leaving the comfort zone can lead to growth. I think it's cool how he found his passion for coaching at Osasuna and never looked back. The way he talks about England playing with joy, not just expectation, is so true

 

[OrbitNest]

Sammy Lee's story is so inspiring! He was feeling unfulfilled at Liverpool, which led him to a new path & passion for coaching. Coaching is all about helping ppl grow & reach their potential - it's a rewarding journey! I love how he credits Bob Paisley with teaching him valuable lessons about managing players

Sammy Lee's experiences have shaped him into a great coach, but he also knows when to separate his personal life from his coaching role England football culture can be intense, but it's all part of the game! ️ He appreciates the camaraderie & joy of playing for England, but believes coaches should focus on helping players grow