The ability to inspire is a key component in any Premier League manager’s arsenal. Throughout his management career, operating predominantly on modest budgets, Steve Coppell has consistently demonstrated his ability to inspire his players beyond their comfort zones. Sue McCann caught up with Reading’s manager to find out the sources of his own inspirations.

Most Inspiring Manager of all Time

“Two actually stick out in my mind. Bill Shankly started the Liverpool dynasty and he was a unique human being and there is no way anybody could duplicate him. I was very, very fortunate that when he left Liverpool he came to Tranmere Rovers were I was playing. I always remember the particular season that he got involved when I think we’d gone through to February without winning an away game. The first away game he came to was at Gillingham which was a particularly difficult place to go to. We got the train there, we were pushing the kit skips through the streets of Gillingham from the station to the ground Shankly and all and we won that particular game... our first away win of that season. He had an aura and an effect on the people around him without doubt.