Alex Clapham was on the verge of becoming an assistant manager at a Championship club when Borussia Dortmund offered him a role as their set-piece coach. He jumped at the opportunity, and it was a decision that would change his life. "The first call I made was to my wife, telling her we were moving to Germany instead of staying in England," he recalls. Clapham spent 18 months at Dortmund, learning from the best and working with top players like Nico Schlotterbeck and Karim Adeyemi.
His experience in Germany was invaluable, but it was just one stop on his coaching journey, which has taken him to Getafe in Spain, Vasco da Gama in Brazil, and Genoa in Italy. So, how did a young Englishman with no professional playing background end up coaching at some of the world's biggest clubs? It all started when Clapham decided to pursue a career in coaching at the age of 23.
He moved to Spain, where he earned his coaching badges and developed a passion for the Spanish style of play. Clapham's big break came when he became the U19 coach at Getafe, where he worked under Jose Bordalas and learned the importance of set-pieces.
From there, his career took off, with stints in Sweden, England, and Brazil. At Vasco da Gama, Clapham worked with Brazilian World Cup winner Jorginho and helped the team win promotion back to the top division.
He then moved to Genoa, where he played a role in their promotion to Serie A. Clapham's experiences have taught him a lot about different cultures, ideas, and structures, and he believes that his time at Dortmund was particularly educational. Working with top players like Schlotterbeck and Adeyemi, he learned the importance of being adaptable and open to new ideas.
Clapham's goal is to become an assistant manager, where he can work closely with players and help them develop their skills. With his passion for the game and his willingness to learn, he is sure to achieve his goal and become one of the top coaches in the world.