THE words of advice were delivered with genuine intent and more than a hint of humility. David Moyes might be eager to add the potential talents of David Weir to the Finch Farm coaching staff, but nevertheless gave him some heart-felt encouragement this summer when he said: “Keep playing as long as you can, because you’re a long time not playing.”
Moyes knows that when the time comes for Weir to hang up his boots for the last time, his countryman will make a canny addition to his team.
One day, it’s not difficult to imagine Weir becoming a top class manager in the mould of the current Everton boss either; dedicated, tactically astute, unflinching, tough.
They share much in common.
And if Weir does ultimately realise his ambition, and he is already helping out with training at Glasgow Rangers, he will become simply the latest former Everton player to prove themselves an able manager.
Surely there are few clubs in England who can rival the Toffees for their roll-call of former players who are now top gaffers around the footballing world.
Perhaps the greatest of them all still sits in the director’s box at Goodison for every home game. Howard Kendall went from being an untouchable as part of the Holy Trinity to being the club’s most successful manager of all time.
He was followed of course by Colin Harvey, and although the great Alan Ball never stood in the hole dug-out at Goodison, he enjoyed an enduring managerial career at several top clubs.
And of course, Harry Catterick was a successful player and manager before him.
Fast forward in history and the list goes on.
Just this week, England were very nearly held to a draw at Wembley by Gary Speed’s Wales.
If it were not for Rob Earnshaw’s jaw dropping miss in the second half, the former Everton captain would have come away from Wembley, the home of English football, with a point in his Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
Wales were exceeding expectations but still trailing to Ashley Young’s first-half goal when Earnshaw was presented with the type of chance a Sunday morning park player would be disappointed to miss.
Speed has made an average Wales squad obdurate, and perhaps even hinted that there is much better to come by instilling confidence in some of his younger players like Darcy Blake and Aaron Ramsey.
Then recall Slaven Bilic. The defender, who had an admittedly unremarkable, injury-plagued spell at Goodison, must have absorbed enough under Joe Royle and Howard Kendall to eventually make his Croatia side favourites for Euro 2008, and beyond.
Peter Reid continues to forge a career in the managerial game with every ounce of the grit and determination he brought to Everton’s title winning side in 1985, and even though Kevin Ratcliffe never tasted the highs as a boss, he did manage to lead Shrewsbury Town to that infamous victory over the Blues in the FA Cup.
Don’t forget Graeme Sharp led Bangor City to Welsh Cup success, and Mike Newell had spells with Hartlepool United, Luton Town and Grimsby Town.
It hasn’t always been budding Jose Mourinho’s.
Dave Watson failed to quite make his inspirational qualities on the pitch translate fully to the sidelines, even if he was highly thought of by many during his time in charge of Tranmere Rovers.
And Craig Short remains a name to look out for after bouncing back from his sacking by Notts County last year to win an appointment as Derby County’s academy Head Of Recruitment.
Even the current Everton squad possesses a group of players that Moyes has tipped to become future bosses.
Phil Neville already has a suitable air of authority about him, and is flying through his coaching badges, while Tim Cahill and Leon Osman have the tactical smarts to be top coaches, according to their current manager.
