Gary Breen told Goals on Sunday why he decided to start his coaching career in League Two.
Breen loving life as a coach
He played at the World Cup and enjoyed a long, illustrious career in the Premier League, so why has Gary Breen decided to go to Barnet?
The former Republic of Ireland international, who played for the likes of Coventry, West Ham and Sunderland earlier this decade decided to move to the League Two club as a player/coach last December.
Following the arrival of Ian Hendon as manager, Breen took up the role of assistant manager over the summer and he insists he is relishing the challenge.
He popped into the
Goals on Sunday studio on Sunday to explain why he decided to make the move to Underhill and he said he is enjoying his new role - even though coaches have to work a lot harder than players.
Breen said: "I made a decision that my playing career was petering out and I wasn't that interested in dropping down the divisions.
"I have a real desire now to coach and hopefully go on and manage. I was given that opportunity at Barnet and it's gone well so far.
"Ian Hendon took over about eight months ago as a caretaker originally, but he did very well and was given the job. He asked me to assist him and I was happy to do so.
"It's a lot harder than you realise. We played on Friday night and then I was out scouting at a game on Saturday so it's a lot more time consuming.
"But I'm enjoying it and I've got a real appetite to do it."
Talent
Breen is still registered as a player, but insists he is happy to sit on the sidelines and nurture the talent at Barnet.
He admits the quality isn't as high in League Two as it was in the Premier League, but he says the desire of the Barnet players makes them a pleasure to work with.
He said: "My decision to go to Barnet wasn't really based on playing, it was to start my managerial career.
"But when you see lads working hard and listening to what you tell them - and then the results go the way they have - it's very rewarding.
"They can't do exactly what Premier League players can do, but there's an opportunity. We're a young squad and if they work hard then eventually maybe they might have an opportunity to go to that level.
"When you don't have the money, it's about desire more than anything. Our wage bill is based on our attendances, so it won't be very high, but we've got lads that are so committed to doing well for themselves and for the club.
"It's great to work with those types of people."
Fitness
If Breen does play this season, he would not be the oldest man to pull on the Barnet shirt this year.
At 41 years of age, Paul Furlong is still playing and scoring goals and Breen applauded the fitness of the former Chelsea and Birmingham striker.
And he said Barnet are taking a scientific approach to fitness to ensure all of their players can cope with the rigours of a League Two season.
"He's a great professional," Breen said of Furlong.
"If you look at him with his training kit on he still looks like a 25-year-old. He's got the desire to run the channels at 41, which is great.
"Unlike in Kammy's days, there's no steak and chips as a pre-match meal. It's all about diet and how you recover afterwards. I'm sure you've heard about ice baths and things like that - and that does make a difference.
"We don't have the resources that most clubs have to be perfectly honest, but we work hard at what we can do with warm downs and stuff like that.
"We're very fit and we've worked them very hard this pre-season. We're reaping the benefits of that now certainly."
