Kenny Miller: Caixinha fall out at Rangers, joining Celtic, McCoist influence, Boyd partnership, biggest fear and more
KENNY MILLER had quite the playing career.
Now, the former Rangers star is embarking on a management career that he hopes takes him back to the top.
Here, he sat down with SunSport's Chief Ffootball Writer to look back on his career so far - plus some extra information you might not have known.
AUSTRALIA: Tell us about your time Down Under
I worked for two clubs, Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers, and loved it. I was No 2 to Carl Robinson and I learned loads.
BOSS: What are your managerial ambitions?
To be the best I can be. I feel I’m ready and would love an opportunity to show what I can do. I had a brief spell at Livingston and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Now it’s just a case of getting another chance.
COISTY: Was Ally McCoist a big influence on your career?
What a man. He was one of my heroes growing up. It was fantastic to work with him at Rangers and the national team. He’s an infectious character who was brilliant for me and pushed me on.
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DICK ADVOCAAT: How was it working with the Little General?
He signed me at 20 from Hibs and I went to learn. Good coaches make players better and that’s what he did. But there were huge demands on him and his focus was simply to win. He did have a softer side people maybe didn’t see, as did No 2 Bert van Lingen.
ECK: How important was Alex McLeish to your progress at Hibs?
Massive. He gave me my breakthrough season. He still trained then and marked me in bounce games. I remember one time we were jostling, I swung my elbow and cracked him in the face. I burst his nose and drew blood. I thought, ‘Oh-oh,’ but he loved it. That said, when he went to Rangers he sold me on his first day!
FLORIDA: What’s your favourite holiday destination?
You’ve just named it. We’ve been to Orlando a few times with the kids and it’s brilliant. You can’t help being like a big kid in Disney World.
GILMOUR: You raved about Billy as a kid at Rangers. What’s he got?
It’s not just his ability. It’s his football brain, his mentality and his attitude that sets him apart. Most young players are driven but the wee man was always on a different level. He just works things out — it’s like watching a top-class tennis pro or golfer. He trained with the first team at Rangers when he was 15 but it doesn’t do him justice just to say he didn’t look out of place. He was better.
HAMPDEN: Your best moment?
As a club player, my League Cup final winner for Rangers against St Mirren when we had nine men. We were brutal but managed to find a way, as we always did under Walter Smith.
ITALY: Talk us through your Scotland goal against the Azzurri?
Put it this way, it was such a great goal you wouldn’t have thought Scotland scored it.
JINGLE BELLS: What was your best-ever Christmas present as a kid?
I got a red, white and blue racer bike when I was about nine. Everyone else was getting mountain bikes but I was buzzing.
KRIS BOYD: Tell us about playing with our SunSport columnist
Boydy and I just clicked. He came into the Scotland squad when I was at Wolves. He was scoring for fun at Rangers and I was thinking he’d maybe be the guy who took my place. But from the second we met, we got on brilliantly. At Rangers our partnership was great and I always put it down to us liking each other off the pitch.
LICENCE: Have you enjoyed your Uefa Pro-Licence?
It’s been tough, but so enjoyable. I did most of it when I was in Australia, which meant 11pm to 4am Zoom calls!
MAKING A MURDERER: What did you watch during lockdown?
Everything. I love box sets and can sit for hours in front of the TV. Entourage, The Sopranos, 24, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, Tiger King. I’m watching Money Heist at the moment.
NO WAY PEDRO: How do you reflect on your fall-out with Caixinha?
There was a breakdown. How and why, I honestly don’t know. Only he could tell you. Everything was fine, I got a new contract after the first season, but in the second year things took a turn. I have my ideas on why it happened, which is frustrating. I genuinely don’t think it was down to him, more certain people in his ear. These things happen but the only thing I know is I would never have treated someone the way I was treated. I would have been honest. I asked so many times what was going on and the answer was always, ‘No, nothing.’ I was left out of the 18 when I was better than most, but never told why. There was just no honesty about it. He could have been a man and been straight.
OLD FIRM DIVIDE: Was it a big decision signing for Celtic having played for Gers?
It was down to another O word — opportunity. Celtic were in the Champions League, which I only tasted at Rangers in my first spell. I scored against Monaco and it whetted my appetite. Funnily enough, the away game was memorable too. In Monte Carlo, Peter Lovenkrands and I travelled, but sat in the stand. We met Sean Connery, who was there to see Sir David Murray. Then after the game Dick Advocaat told us we’d get a share of the bonus money!
PUNDIT: Do you enjoy being on TV and radio?
I spend hours on the phone to pals every day talking about football. I’m obsessed with the game so I love going on TV and putting my views across.
QUALITIES: What are your best ones?
I’m honest and a decent human being. It’s important in life to treat people properly — that’s what I’ll take into management.
RANGERS: What did it mean to play three times for the club you loved?
A privilege. That’s the best way to describe it. It saddens me how it all ended but Rangers will always be my team.
SMITH: How did you feel when Walter passed away?
It’s incredibly sad to think he’s no longer with us. As a man, he was incredible. As a manager, he was the best. But how I feel about Walter Smith is echoed by everyone who knew him.
TURKEY: What was it like signing for Bursaspor?
The actual day itself was crazy. I landed at Istanbul airport and was taken to Bursa by helicopter like Jack Bauer in 24. When I was paraded, there were thousands inside the stadium to welcome me. The club weren’t happy when I said I wanted to return to the UK after five months! I was almost physically fighting with them to go. But when it was sorted, it was all cuddles. The people couldn’t have been friendlier.
UNBELIEVABLE: Tell us something we don’t know about you
I’m decent at lawn bowls. I took it quite seriously when I was younger and reckon I could have become world champion, had I stuck to it. I was club champion as a junior and played for the county. A few years ago my dad, my brother and myself entered an Open Triples tournament and we won it.
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VROOM: What was your first car?
A blue J-reg Vauxhall Astra. It cost me £2,600 and it was all my savings at the time.
WOLVES: Tell us about that move
I had five seasons there and loved it. It’s the best changing room I was part of. When we’d go out, everyone would go. I’ve never been as nervous as I was before our play-off final with Sheffield United but we won 3-0 to go up to the Prem.
X-RAY: What was the worst injury you had?
I was fortunate with injuries but broke my collarbone at Wolves. I needed surgery and was out for three months but at the time I didn’t feel a thing. I still have a metal plate holding it together now.
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YIKES: What scares you?
Spiders and snakes. In Australia I was terrified of being bitten.
ZICO: Who was the best player you played with in your career?
Ronald de Boer, Paul Ince, Joleon Lescott, Franck Sauzee and Russell Latapy were all superb. But Barry Ferguson at Rangers was as good as anyone.
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