Rangers: Michael Beale is new manager – what can Ibrox expect?

Playing on the streets of a south London council estate as a kid, Beale dreamed of making it in the professional game. But the Charlton Athletic academy product’s hopes ended at the age of 21.

Trials in his homeland, the United States and the Netherlands – where he was introduced to a new way of playing – followed, before he began an unconventional route into coaching six months later.

With leftover funds from his playing days, Beale decided to invest in the Brazilian Soccer Schools franchise, which aims to teach young kids the art of futsal. Think of it as Brazil’s answer to five-a-side football, but played with a smaller, low-bounce ball to enhance close control and technical ability.

Beale ran the programme in a Bromley church hall and, while business did not start too well, it sparked his love and passion for developing youth at grassroots level before leading to a role at Chelsea.

“Your personality is so important,” he told Coaches Voice, external. “It’s someone’s son or daughter. It’s important you give them a fantastic interest and inspire them.

“When young kids get out their mum or dad’s car, and they run to the pitch to start training, if after 15 minutes they don’t have the same energy, you have got it wrong. It’s the same for a professional footballer.”

A 10-year spell at Chelsea began on a part-time basis in 2003 before ending as a full-time youth coach having spent time working under Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Guus Hiddink, while developing players such as Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham.

That resulted in a move to Liverpool, where Beale oversaw the Under-16s before progressing in 2014 to the Under-23s. A staggering 18 members of his squad made first-team debuts in the space of two years, including current regulars Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones.