As part of our Inside the EFL series, Adam Bate interviews Birmingham City manager Chris Davies for an exclusive chat ahead of the team's return to the Championship; watch Birmingham v Ipswich live on Sky Sports Football this Friday; kick-off 8pm.
Photo: Inside the EFL: Birmingham City return to the Championship with high ambitions under Chris Davies
What's next for Birmingham City after achieving the highest points tally in English football history? Chris Davies could retire with a higher win percentage than Pep Guardiola. But he's not counting on it. He and Birmingham City are just getting started.
Davies knows his stats. Most points? “One hundred and eleven.” Most league wins of any English team before them? “Thirty-four.” Not bad for a club that has finished 17th for the last eight seasons. A club that has forgotten how to win.
“It was a real rejuvenation for the whole club,” Davies told Sky Sports. “It was really nice after so many years of decline, incompetent management and ownership and just chaos. The fans have been waiting for a long time for a season to really remember.”
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And for Davies, it's important too. After stints as assistant manager at Liverpool, Celtic, Leicester and Tottenham, he's long felt he was ready for this chance. “Birmingham seemed like the perfect option. I wanted to make an impact straight away and I saw that opportunity here.”
Speaking to Sky Sports in the offices of St Andrews, he now confidently says he prefers being a head coach. “I feel more comfortable as a manager. It’s more intense, but less stressful. You don’t have to doubt yourself. I feel more confident in this role.”
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Chris Davies spoke to Sky Sports about his coaching journey in April
Birmingham's owners certainly needed it. There were some unfortunate mistakes, some of which are discussed in a recent documentary. Wayne Rooney provided his profile. But Davies brings something that fits their vision.
The plans are ambitious. Knighthead Capital Management, whose investors include NFL legend Tom Brady, has already invested more than £35 million in infrastructure. There are proposals to build a 60,000-seater stadium and develop a sports cluster in the city.
Fans appreciate the way the experience has changed and the attention to detail that is winning hearts and minds. With the club resurgent both on and off the pitch, it is the desire to create something lasting that captures Davies' imagination.
He says this after a team in development essentially beat Solihull Moors. “The system of play. The way they operate. The principles that have been laid out in our press. A lot of that has been there. It's very encouraging that it's filtering down to the club.”
We plan to extend this to the academy as well. “We are working to create an identity there as well. With our successes, I think it only strengthens the belief in our playing style and identity. The principles are respected.”
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Davis is working closely with director of sport Craig Gardner on the next steps. “Attracting and retaining players is what’s important this summer.” Some of the fees being reported are inflated as clubs are
Sourse: skysports.com
