MICK Clegg, the man who helped coach football legend Cristiano Ronaldo in his evolution from average player to global sensation, says the process was a simple one.
“Ronaldo observed the best players at Manchester United, looked at what they were doing, then made a conscious decision to work harder and longer, with more passion, desire and knowledge,” says Clegg.
“He was consistent - whether things went right or wrong - and used more focus and concentration in what he believed in than anybody I have ever seen. That was the simple formula that propelled Ronaldo into superstar league.”
Clegg and Mickey McGurn, a Strength and Conditioning expert who has trained three national senior Irish teams, will be giving away their sporting secrets at a special coaching event in Belfast's Riddell Hall, Stranmillis Road on 23 September.
‘Reducing Injury, Increasing Performance’ is a joint 3fivetwo Training Academy and Irish News event aimed at sports coaches, physiotherapists, personal trainers and team physicians.
Clegg has trained legendary international footballers like Roy Keane, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs, as well as professional speedway rider Kyle Howarth and top class athletes in golf, BMX, rugby and American football.
He says: “Players need to create the passion in themselves to find knowledge, to use that knowledge with care and consistency, and to become dedicated to succeeding in their chosen pathway far more rigorously than ever before.
“I used the overload training principle to enable MUFC players to become stronger than ever before, combining basic exercises for the lower body and core, augmented by upper body strength workouts.
”These exercises, spliced alongside skill and speed training and supported by the development of brain training and reaction in the visual field, give the athlete a level of strength and agility that is useable on the pitch.”
Clegg says his toughest training challenge was a USA Tour at Nike Centre – the world’s leading endurance training centre - in Portland, Oregon, in 2002.
“I was asked to put a session on for speed, power and strength for 24 1st team football players,” he says. “I set up 22 stations with 30 seconds of boxing power training for each player in between every exercise.
“Everybody wanted to hit with their most powerful punches! I did 72 rounds of boxing in that session with the lads coming at me one after another and I was absolutely smashed by the end of it … “
The two Michaels will be join at the training session in Belfast by Dr Neil Heron, a Sports Medicine Physician at the National Sports Clinic in Belfast, is at the forefront of his speciality in the UK and beyond and has worked with Linfield FC and Northern Ireland international football teams.
The speakers will address current sports injuries and treatments, effective use of conditioning and strength, identify strategies to prevent injury, review current research and explain the concept of ‘Seed of Speed’.
Tickets for the event at Riddell Hall, Stranmillis Road, cost £42 including VAT and can be purchased by visiting 3fivetwotraining.com, telephoning 028 9073 5273 or emailing training academy@3fivetwo.com.
Mick’s Training Tips
Warning: fully warm up for this intense exercise sequence and follow with a 30 second deep breathing rest.
Do 5 max semi squats and jumps, getting arms up to shoulder level, then 7 seconds fast feet sprinting on the spot going into a 15 metre sprint, then 4 diagonal cone agility change of direction sprints of 5 metres each.
Power & Strength Exercises
Squats or deep knee bends below parallel
Step down to back, side and front of low box
Double foot high jump with basketball layup at maximum height of jump
Single leg hops over hurdles
Press-ups, chins and dips
Visual Acuity, Timing & Distance Training
Pass ball to wall 10 metres away, right foot then left foot moving hips into correct position to instep pass. Try to get 5x 20 passes with no mistakes.
