St Ledger (scout) opens up on recruitment process under 'intelligent' Brendan Rodgers

[davieG]

https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forum/1-leicester-city-forum/?do=add

 

Leicester City scout opens up on recruitment process under 'intelligent' Brendan Rodgers
The former centre-back retired from playing in 2018 and is now a senior scout for Leicester City

ByLuke Pawley
10:38, 29 SEP 2021

Former Leicester City defender Sean St Ledger has opened up on scouting for the club while coaching young Irish players.

The 36-year-old is a senior scout for City and is also assistant coach for the Republic of Ireland Under-15 national team.

St Ledger, who hung up his boots and 2018 and moved into his new career that August, says he has watched over 700 games in the "last few years".

The Irishman mostly scouts for the first team but was instrumental in recommending the signings of former development squad players Ali Reghba and Darragh O'Connor.

"The club have been very good with me and understand the benefits of me working in both roles," St Ledger told fcbusiness.

"I am able to see and work with the best Irish players at that age on a day-to-day basis, whilst working out their character, something which is a key element of recruitment, and is probably the most difficult factor as you’re often relying upon other opinions or reports for that information.

"When we play in a tournament, perhaps against Spain or The Netherlands for example, I’m able to track how a player progresses from an early stage, through to them making their first-team debut, monitoring their development on a path and I can return to my notes, building a database of talent and trajectory."

St Ledger is an important cog in Leicester's scouting network and has learned a lot from being on recruitment calls with Brendan Rodgers.

"I’ve been privileged to be on recruitment calls with the manager at Leicester City, and to hear the clarity in his message on what he wants or expects from a player. To listen to him speak about football, and his intelligence, is almost like a coaching course in itself," he added.

"I feel like having coaching and recruitment experiences, added to the people I work with and watch, places me in a good position. I’ve got a variety of things going on at the moment, and I feel they will merge together well."

"I’ve been privileged to be on recruitment calls with the manager at Leicester City (Brendan Rodgers), and to hear the clarity in his message on what he wants or expects from a player. To listen to him speak about football, and his intelligence, is almost like a coaching course in itself.

"I feel like having coaching and recruitment experiences, added to the people I work with and watch, places me in a good position. I’ve got a variety of things going on at the moment, and I feel they will merge together well."

St Ledger "loves coaching" and is starting his UEFA Pro Licence course this year, but he is happy with both coaching and scouting right now.

When he does progress as a coach, he wants his teams to have "intensity" and an "aggressive" approach out on the pitch.

The Irishman previously spent three months coaching City's under-16s.

[davieG]

Just now, davieG said:

former development squad players Ali Reghba and Darragh O'Connor.

Can we presume that these are no longer with us as I can't see them being part of the 1st team squad?

[rachhere]

49 minutes ago, davieG said:

Can we presume that these are no longer with us as I can't see them being part of the 1st team squad?

Confused by that. Ali still has LCFC for his instagram profile. He's not played since preseason but I assumed he was injured. 

[Alf Bentley]

I'm expecting an influx of world-class young Irish players now, Sean.....

 

2nd PL title in 2026, Champions' League in 2027 and the backbone of the Irish team that wins the 2030 World Cup seems a reasonable schedule, Sean. No pressure, mate. 

[moore_94]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Can we presume that these are no longer with us as I can't see them being part of the 1st team squad?

I think Reghba may still be here, got sent off in a game vs Chelsea last season for serious foul play (kicked a Chelsea player in the head whilst attempting a bicycle kick) and then may have got injured, hasn't been seen since but definitely no where near 1st team level, or even that good at under 23 level to be honest

 

We didn't renew O'Connor's contract and he joined Motherwell

Edited 29 September 2021 by moore_94

[rachhere]

3 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

I think Reghba may still be here, got sent off in a game vs Chelsea late last season for serious foul play (kicked a Chelsea player in the head whilst attempting a bicycle kick) and then may have got injured, hasn't been seen since but definitely no where near 1st team level, or even that good at under 23 level to be honest

 

We didn't renew O'Connor's contract and he joined Motherwell

He played in preseason - i saw him with my own eyes! I thought he did well in his first year with the U23s. Just went wrong when he was pushed out when George Hirst came back and he was played out of position. 

[Lambert09]

1 hour ago, moore_94 said:

I think Reghba may still be here, got sent off in a game vs Chelsea last season for serious foul play (kicked a Chelsea player in the head whilst attempting a bicycle kick) and then may have got injured, hasn't been seen since but definitely no where near 1st team level, or even that good at under 23 level to be honest

 

We didn't renew O'Connor's contract and he joined Motherwell

Not the best example to give of st ledger recommending players based on personality 

Didn’t he go on strike for his team before signing for us 

Edited 29 September 2021 by Lambert09

[rachhere]

4 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

Not the best example to give of st ledger recommending players based on personality 

Didn’t he go on strike for his team before signing for us 

Who? Reghba? I don't think so - quite the opposite really - he had his trial here, obviously they wanted him to sign after that, but he went back to his original club to finish off the season first. 

[Tielemans63]

Bit random but does anyone else absolutely hate the expression 'opens up about' as if some deep-rooted and truly horrendous memory is being explored?

 

"Troy Deeney 'opens up' about that time he almost joined Leicester but actually didn't."

 

Probs just me 

Edited 29 September 2021 by Tielemans63

[rachhere]

2 minutes ago, Tielemans63 said:

Bit random but does anyone else absolutely hate the expression 'opens up about' as if some deep-rooted and truly horrendous memory is being explored?

 

Probs just me 

I know what you mean. Most of the time they are just having a casual chat!

[Tielemans63]

1 minute ago, rachhere said:

I know what you mean. Most of the time they are just having a casual chat!

Exactly! Glad it's not just me

 

[davieG]

44 minutes ago, Tielemans63 said:

Bit random but does anyone else absolutely hate the expression 'opens up about' as if some deep-rooted and truly horrendous memory is being explored?

 

"Troy Deeney 'opens up' about that time he almost joined Leicester but actually didn't."

 

Probs just me 

I'd like to tell you what I think but I don't think now is the right time for me to open up. 

[Ric Flair]

3 hours ago, Alf Bentley said:

I'm expecting an influx of world-class young Irish players now, Sean.....

 

2nd PL title in 2026, Champions' League in 2027 and the backbone of the Irish team that wins the 2030 World Cup seems a reasonable schedule, Sean. No pressure, mate. 

It's now very very difficult to recruit Irish players believe it or not. They cannot join under the age of 18 anymore and even 18+ is difficult to get work permits as the Irish league is the absolute pits. There was hope they'd tweak the new transfer rules to allow the Irish to be treated similar to the UK bit I'm not sure that has happened as Kelvin Zeffi ended up at Inter Milan rather than in England.

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

20 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

It's now very very difficult to recruit Irish players believe it or not. They cannot join under the age of 18 anymore and even 18+ is difficult to get work permits as the Irish league is the absolute pits. There was hope they'd tweak the new transfer rules to allow the Irish to be treated similar to the UK bit I'm not sure that has happened as Kelvin Zeffi ended up at Inter Milan rather than in England.

Why? Irish citizens have the right to live and work in the UK under the Common Travel Area between the UK and RoI, which wasn't changed under Brexit. Irish citizens don't need work permits.

[Cincinnati Fox]

This does not inspire my with confidence in our scouting network

[MPH]

This doesn’t feel like the first article we have had the last few days with someone talking about how great Rodgers is. Bit of… propaganda perhaps to reassure uneasy fans triple-thinking recent results?

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

Why? Irish citizens have the right to live and work in the UK under the Common Travel Area between the UK and RoI, which wasn't changed under Brexit. Irish citizens don't need work permits.

I've read somewhere that that CTA has been superseded by the FIFA transfer rules for players under the age of 18, as it stands the UK can't sign Irish players under 18 and 18 and over I'm not sure if the CTA is then considered or if Ireland is treated as other overseas leagues and as its poor quality might make it difficult to sign players from there.

[Saxondale]

4 hours ago, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

Why? Irish citizens have the right to live and work in the UK under the Common Travel Area between the UK and RoI, which wasn't changed under Brexit. Irish citizens don't need work permits.

I don’t think the Common Travel Area is the same as a right to work?

[Mike Oxlong]

Apparently he’s already got a speedy left footed right winger lined up for us. Someone called Taylor Swift. 

Edited 30 September 2021 by Mike Oxlong

[Vardinio'sCat]

13 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

It's now very very difficult to recruit Irish players believe it or not. They cannot join under the age of 18 anymore and even 18+ is difficult to get work permits as the Irish league is the absolute pits. There was hope they'd tweak the new transfer rules to allow the Irish to be treated similar to the UK bit I'm not sure that has happened as Kelvin Zeffi ended up at Inter Milan rather than in England.

 

That's surprising, Irish kids can move to the UK by rights but can't sign terms? I would have thought the Common travel area made that problematical, but I can only bow to your undoubted greater knowledge of this area.

 

My basic point is, can't they just move to the UK and reside here? Most of the lads will have family over here anyway.

 

Edit: I see this has been answered above. Top time saving tip, always scroll through before posting as someone else is bound to have thought the same as you.

Edited 30 September 2021 by Vardinio'sCat

[Vardinio'sCat]

8 hours ago, Saxondale said:

I don’t think the Common Travel Area is the same as a right to work?

 

It includes the right to work, I think.

 

 

Under the CTA, British and Irish citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study and vote in certain elections, as well as to access social welfare benefits and health services.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-travel-area-guidance

[Silver surfer 1]

Something tells me Sean’s finger prints are all over the Vesterguard identification.  Hope I’m wrong , as it isn’t working . 

[Ric Flair]

7 minutes ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

 

That's surprising, Irish kids can move to the UK by rights but can't sign terms? I would have thought the Common travel area made that problematical, but I can only bow to your undoubted greater knowledge of this area.

 

My basic point is, can't they just move to the UK and reside here? Most of the lads will have family over here anyway.

 

Edit: I see this has been answered above. Top time saving tip, always scroll through before posting as someone else is bound to have thought the same as you.

 

4 minutes ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

 

It includes the right to work, I think.

 

 

Under the CTA, British and Irish citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study and vote in certain elections, as well as to access social welfare benefits and health services.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-travel-area-guidance

I think it's the players under the age of 18 that there's a current grey area/sticking point on. Officially they can't transfer between clubs but maybe they could mug their Irish clubs off and claim they are moving to England with their family but not sure.

[Vardinio'sCat]

8 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

 

I think it's the players under the age of 18 that there's a current grey area/sticking point on. Officially they can't transfer between clubs but maybe they could mug their Irish clubs off and claim they are moving to England with their family but not sure.

 

Sounds reasonable, bit of a shame if so. It strikes me as a minefield of competing juristictions, if that is the right word.

 

I bet the lawyers love it.

Edited 30 September 2021 by Vardinio'sCat

[Saxondale]

5 hours ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

 

It includes the right to work, I think.

 

 

Under the CTA, British and Irish citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study and vote in certain elections, as well as to access social welfare benefits and health services.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-travel-area-guidance

Interesting. So we can move to Ireland and go on their dole?