West Ham United academy chief Tony Carr has revealed how he managed to convince England captain Rio Ferdinand to become a centre-half.
The Manchester United defender began his junior career at West Ham United as a midfielder.
"I was the first to put Rio at the back and it was a hard sell at first," Carr told the Mail on Sunday. "He was 15 and loved playing midfield with his big mate Frank Lampard. His first reaction when I said I wanted him to switch was 'Nah, nah, I don't want to play there'.
"I had to use a bit of psychology on him, persuade him I still wanted him to be a midfield player, but in defence. He tried it and took to it right away."
It was the Germans who influenced Carr to put Ferdinand in defence - a revelation that could make his club manager Sir Alex Ferguson splutter after last week's events at Old Trafford.
"Andy Roxburgh of UEFA gave a lecture about this new system being developed in Europe, with three centre-backs and two wing-backs.
"The best exponents were the Germans. They would put their most talented midfielder in the centre of the three defenders, allowing him to break forward and do damage. I immediately thought of Rio. I knew he could adapt.
"He was the best all-round player I've had. When I published a coaching manual, Rio's photograph was on nearly every page. I'd need a model for the chapter on heading and Rio was the best header. I'd do one for passing, Rio was the best at passing. And so it went on."
