Ross County manager Don Cowie ‘blown away’ by visit to former Hearts manager Ian Cathro at Estoril in Portugal as part of UEFA Pro Licence course
Don Cowie has taken inspiration from one of his former managers as he continues to progress on his pro licence
The Ross County manager is on his way to earning the top coaching qualification available, and part of the course requirements is to spend time at a club outside the UK to see how they operate.
With no fixture for the Staggies last weekend, Cowie took the opportunity to go and visit his former coach at Hearts, Ian Cathro, who is now based in Portugal with top flight club Estoril.
Having remembered Cathro in his first managerial role at just 30 years old back in 2016, Cowie was impressed by how much development he has seen in a coach who has regularly linked up with current Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo throughout his career.
“He's someone who was a manager at 30 in Hearts, and it was a difficult situation for him, but he has shown that he has a strong mindset to come back from that disappointment,” Cowie said.
"He has worked with Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves and Spurs, and gone out to be a manager himself again, so it's great to see how he has grown since I worked with him a few years ago.
"He was only 30 when he was at Hearts, and he had never been a manager before.
"What really impressed me was the detail he had as a coach on the training pitch. That was his real strength.
"He hadn't had experience of being a player or a manager, so he hadn't been in that changing room environment, so that was all new to him.
"When the demands and expectation of managing a club like Hearts hit when results weren't going his way, it's a difficult environment to be in, and unfortunately he lost his job after seven or eight months.
"Now, I was initially blown away when I saw him speaking to the group in fluent Portuguese. To have the ability to do that gives you so many opportunities as a coach or a manager in different cultures.
"Seeing him embracing that was really impressive to watch, and eight years later, you can tell he's much more confident in himself."
Closer to home, Cowie also gave an update on Andrew Macleod, who he previously described as being out with a niggling injury.
The attacking midfielder from Stornoway is dealing with a groin issue, and Cowie admits the Staggies are now looking at ensuring the 20-year-old is ready to contribute next season instead of rushing him back.
"He has been in the Highland League on loan, and when he came back in January he made appearances against Hibernian and Rangers which shows what we think of him as a player,” Cowie added.
"He still has steps to take to make it as a regular player in the Premiership, but we believe he has the foundation and the quality to do that. Hopefully we can get him cleared up and ready for next season.
"He was trying to play through it because of the boy that he is and the opportunity he has.
"Being in the first team, he wouldn't want to come away from that too easily, so he was pushing his body to the limit and it's got to the stage where we've had to shut him down and rest him because it could have become a long-term issue.
"He's had a couple of niggly injuries in the last three years since he's been in a full-time environment, and it has halted his progression at times when he's been really flourishing.
"He has had to take a step back, and it's frustrating, but it's important for me then as a manager to get around him and make sure he knows how much confidence and belief I have in him.
"It's part of being a footballer. There are many ups and downs, and it's just about dealing with it and coming back stronger."