Hibs hero ready to become a manager as Easter Road tears of joy show him the true meaning of football
The Hibs hero has gone on to coach at the likes of Newcastle United and Ipswich Town.
A Hibs favourite insists he’s ready to manage on his own - as he remembers tears of joy at Easter Road.
Chris Hogg spent a large chunk of his senior career at Hibs, joining in 2005 before departing in early 2011. He captained the club and won the 2007 League Cup during a stint in Leith where he made himself part of a team that claimed one of Scotland’s major honours for Hibs, retiring aged 27 due to injury. From there, he’d coach at Ipswich Town, before coaching at Newcastle United.
Liam Manning called upon him to be his assistant and he’s since been his number two at MK Dons, Oxford United, Bristol City and Norwich City. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hogg’s time at Hibs showed him the emotion that football is all about through their League Cup triumph, as he aims to become a gaffer in his own right.
Chris Hogg on time at Hibs
The former Newcastle United, Ipswich and Hibs man said: "I had never even been to Scotland but I had a great five years there, captained them, won a trophy. I remember being on that open-top bus and seeing grown men crying. That is why you do this. I would help out with the youth team in the afternoon. I just started looking at the game differently, putting myself in scenarios.
“I thought I was a real coach. It was not until I went back to Ipswich's academy that I realised I had not really been coaching, I had just been running session. I was doing it without really understanding why I was doing it and what was important."
“I am not a big believer that just because you have played the game then you know how to coach. I really wanted to understand the methodology behind it. I got this accelerated development timeline. I had a range of experiences that would take a hell of a long time now. Within four years, I had worked with every age group up to the 21s."
Will Chris Hogg become a manager?
It is you versus you every day. How can you get better? A big driver is my own playing career. I was not happy with my career. I did everything that I could to be the best, never drank alcohol, did hot yoga before it became popular. But as a player, I had limitations. As a coach, there are not those same limitations.
"It is not about me physically, it is about how I treat people, how I behave, my knowledge of the game and how you impart than on people. That is why I want to maximise everything that I can in my coaching and get to the highest level I can.
"The top might just be helping a group of people fulfil their potential and enjoy the work. It is not about status, it is more about meaning. Liam always knew I would forge my own path at some point," Hogg explains. "I am glad we had that journey. Liam won't mind me saying it because he says it himself, it was more of a partnership, two good friends developing an idea, trying to be successful."