Kevin O’Connor said Brentford Development Squad Manager Lee Carsley had helped him a lot in the early stages of his coaching career and he thought the pair would work well together in the future.
Long-serving Club Captain Kevin announced his retirement from professional football yesterday, Monday May 25.
He will assist Carsley in running the Under-21 group next year.
Kevin will also have a key role at the Club’s Training Ground ensuring continuity and helping to integrate new staff as changes to the football management take place with Rasmus Ankersen and Phil Giles appointed as Co-Directors of Football and a new Head Coach set to arrive this summer.
Kevin, who is about to start a UEFA A-Licence course – the second highest coaching qualification, spoke to www.brentfordfc.co.uk after confirming his retirement and said he was looking forward to working with Carsley full-time.
“I have got to know Lee really well over the past few months,” said Kevin.
“He is a great coach and he is quite a character as well.
“There have been times when he has come and got me out of the office and given me a group of players to work with.
“He has given me responsibility and helped me a lot.
“I think we will be compatible as a coaching team.”
Kevin signed professional terms with Brentford in 1999 after progressing through the Club’s youth system.
He made his debut in February 2000 against Wycombe Wanderers and in more than 15 years as a professional filled just about every position on the pitch.
He became only the fourth man to play 400 Football League games for The Bees when he featured against Bury on the first day of the 2012/13 npower League One season and made his 500th appearance in all competitions against Stevenage on the final day of the 2013/14 season.
Kevin joined the coaching staff in a Player/Coach capacity last summer and played a key role behind the scenes as Brentford clinched a place in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs before deciding to retire at the end of the season and move in to a full-time coaching role.
Kevin said he wanted to stay at Brentford rather than go elsewhere to look to carry on playing and had been offered an appealing role in the new set-up.
“I was very keen to stay at the Club.
“I wanted to stay at Brentford in some capacity.
“The role has been described to me as quite a wide ranging one and it was very appealing to me.
“I am looking forward to starting and to the new challenge.
“Depending on who the new Head Coach is I may have a role to play there but I am looking forward to working with the Under-21s.”
Kevin said the Brentford players had responded well to him since he started taking training sessions.
He said he spoke a lot with the younger players and they tried to use the experience he had gained from more than 500 professional matches.
“At first coaching was a bit strange but you get used to hearing your voice,” said Kevin.
“I have really enjoyed it.
“The lads have responded to me.
“Both the First Team players and the younger lads have been really good to me.
“The younger lads in particular talk to me a lot and try to pick my brains.
“But the First Team players do as well, I talk a lot with the defenders about situations.
“The Under-21 players certainly use me and my experience.
“I would have loved to have someone like that available when I was coming through to do the same.”
Kevin said he knew when he took on a Player/Coach role last summer this would be the next step.
He said he never considered going elsewhere and wanted to stay at Griffin Park.
“I realised last summer when I signed a Player/Coach contract that this was the way my career was going to develop,” said Kevin.
“I have been doing more coaching as the season has gone on and I knew this would be an option.
“I could have looked for another club and tried to remain as a player or stay here and help to build the future of Brentford.
“There may have been clubs that would have taken me but it is not something I every really looked in to.
“I always wanted to stay at Brentford.
“I don’t think I could ever have played for another team.
“When I got the offer to stay I was happy and my decision was always going to be to stay at Brentford.
“I would love to carry on playing until I am 35/36 but I don’t think that would happen at Brentford.
“I am very happy with the role I have, although I will miss playing.”
Brentford’s Development Squad in 2015/16 will include ten players from the successful 2014/15 Youth Team.
The Bees finished second in the Under-18 Professional Development League Two – losing the final to Charlton Athletic.
Kevin said he got a buzz from coaching and believed there was potential in all the players in the Under-21 group.
He admitted it would be different for him to not worry about winning three points on a Saturday afternoon but getting individuals through to the First Team would be great for the Club.
“Coaching is definitely the next best thing to playing,” said Kevin.
“When you work with players and see them do it in a match it makes you realise that what you have done is worthwhile.
“When you teach them and see it in a match it is a real buzz.
“The Under-18s came very close to winning their competition this year.
“There is a lot of potential in those players that will be in the Under-21s next season.
“There will be new players coming in and there is a lot of talent in the players that were in the group this season and are staying with us.
“There will be an exciting group this year and there will be a lot of opportunities for the players to develop.
“I have been talking to Lee about what it is like to coach at that level.
“In many ways it is an individual thing.
“It may be that the best way to help the players is to get them out on loan.
“We may have to weaken our team for our matches in order to get the best out of each individual and if we can get players through to the First Team, that is the most important thing.
“It is a different way of looking at it, I have always worked towards winning three points on a Saturday afternoon and it will probably take me a little while to get used to it.”
Kevin said under Brentford FC Owner Matthew Benham, things were only getting better for The Bees.
“Since Matthew has been here, the Club has only moved upwards,” he said.
“We are coming off the back of a very good season and I hope we can kick on again.
“Everyone can see what is happening here.
“It is obvious at the Training Ground and with the new facility at Uxbridge High School.
“The new stadium is coming as well, it is a great time for Brentford FC.”