Ian Evatt names Pep Guardiola as his biggest influence. Photo: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns
Ian Evatt smiles. «We still have one or two moans and groans from the side, the odd 'go ahead' cry,» says the Bolton Wanderers manager, playfully recalling an incident at home to Exeter City just over two weeks ago. Bolton were 7-0 up after the latest display of tiki-taka football from League One's most progressive and expansive side, with captain Ricardo Santos ridiculed for holding off a run on the halfway line rather than try to break forward in stoppage time . “I think they were being ironic!” Evatt adds, laughing. There was a time, not so long ago, when Bolton were on the brink of bankruptcy under an asset stripping former owner, and the chants at the Tafsheet public stadium were nothing but gloomy and desperate. But the great Renaissance story is unfolding in the foothills of the West Pennine Moors, and on Monday night, when the former meet the latter in League One, a wider audience will be able to see what Evatt likes to call «Bolton Wanderers 2.0».
Beat Portsmouth at Fratton Park in front of the Sky Sports cameras and they will go top, and for a man whose old team Barrow earned the nickname «Barrowcelona» for the way they won promotion to the National League in 2020 , this is a chance to prove yourself. his latest stunning project.
After a terrible period on and off the pitch, there is joy again in Bolton: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns
«We know this will be our toughest test so we hope we can put in a really good performance and get the whole nation tuned in to see what Bolton Wanderers are all about,» Evatt says.
< p>Bolton's emergence from the depths of despair, when the administration felt it was more common than to threaten victory and oblivion, and the foot of League Two within sight of the Championship, is a triumph for the work of Evatt, chairman Sharon Brittan, sporting director Chris. Markham, chief executive Neil Hart and all around. Nearly 25,000 people turned out to watch Bolton beat Blackpool last month and although the crowd was shy, an inspirational Brittan — «the best owner in football» according to Evatt — helped reconnect the club with fans and the community off the pitch , then the manager made them enjoy the mesmerizing entertainment.
«The biggest influence is Pep»
Evatt's Bolton are a bold, bold, attacking formation, firmly in Pep Guardiola's model of playing from the back and, in his words, wanting to «dominate every phase of the game, with or without the ball, and in transition situations.»
An avid reader and passionate fan of American sport, Evatt draws inspiration from many areas and does not mind admitting that he would rather be a manager and coach than a player. One such inspiration is Bill Walsh, the innovative and former head coach of the great 1980s NFL San Francisco 49ers, who popularized the so-called West Coast offense, which placed more emphasis on passing than running.
Close friends with another senior Mobile manager, Luton Town's Rob Edwards, the pair often speak on the phone, exchanging ideas, although it is suspected this will not happen ahead of next month's FA Cup third round tie between the sides. . He is still in touch with his old manager at Blackpool, Ian Holloway, under whom he played in the Premier League and who is “my biggest influence in terms of how important culture and environment are at a football club.” “It's the most underrated tool you can create for free,” adds Evatt, and he and Brittan certainly did that at Bolton.
Evatt is also a big fan of Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and his methods . customized playing structure.
Evatt led Bolton to victory in the Papa John's Trophy last season. Photo: PA Wire/Nick Potts
However, Evatt, still just 42 but now England's 10th longest-serving manager, says no one has shaped his ideas or philosophy as much as Guardiola. “Pep was the biggest influence because in my opinion he changed the game,” explains Evatt. “But it’s not about trying to recreate what Manchester City are, it’s about taking that information and applying it to your team. As coaches you are like a magpie. You take something from everyone and incorporate it into your own ideas and philosophy. What I like about Pep is that he is constantly evolving. Every season there's something new because he's always trying to get better, and I think that's the mindset you need.»
Evatt was involved in a recent documentary about how Guardiola helped change the thinking in English football and, although he is yet to meet the man himself, he hopes to «one day take City to a cup tie or get to where he is.» is located, and I can ask him the questions I have.»
«Chip on the Shoulder»
As for documentaries, the latest episode of the series «Born to Be a Wanderer», which tells the story of the awakening of the club, aired on Sunday and, when you think about it, there have been over 100 players changed since Evatt first walked into the club. 3 and a half years ago, his gaming identity is simply amazing.
Evatt reviewed literally hundreds of CVs when Bolton was looking for a new HR chief in those early days of his reign, and rejected all of them. According to Evatt, they were all representatives of «old school football». But a meeting with Markham, then head of analysis at the Football Association, changed everything and together they formed a powerful alliance. Before Markham came on board and helped lead a revolution at the club, performance analysis and data-driven recruitment did not exist at Bolton.
Evatt's sensibilities for data-driven recruiting have proven to be a winning combination. Take centre-forward Dion Charles, signed from Accrington Stanley and Bolton's top scorer, who is hoping to become the club's first player since John McGinley in 1996-97 to score 30 goals in a campaign. Data showed that Charles' pressing and off-ball work suited Evatt's needs perfectly, but on a personal level the manager was impressed by his «desire and hunger». “There’s almost a crack in his shoulder,” Evatt said. “Because he had non-league experience, he had something to prove. He's so aggressive in everything he does.”
Very similar to Jamie Vardy? “Exactly, very similar,” adds Evatt. “I remember a Blackpool player pulled Fleetwood out in the FA Cup when they were a non-league team and Jamie Vardy played for them in that game. It was a local derby and I ran into Vardy in the center of Blackpool beforehand and he was so cocky.
“I was a Premier League/Championship player at the time and he came up to me and said, 'I can't wait to come get you next week.' Dion has the same attitude — no fear.»
Evatt made 230 appearances for Blackpool during his playing career. Photo: PA Wire/Chris Young
Three players were with Evatt from the start — Santos, defender Gethin Jones and midfielder George Thomason — and all played a central role in the culture the manager sought to create. Santos' story is typical of Bolton's renaissance. “He himself admits that he was about three weeks away from becoming an Amazon driver during the pandemic,” says Evatt. “We took a risk, raised him, and he has progressed very much.”
Evatt is urging his players to stay off social media, which he calls a «toxic mess». “I’ve been in trouble myself,” he says. “I have developed as a person over the years, and I dread to think how I would have behaved on social media during my playing days.”
One of Evatt's goals has been to get kids back into a Bolton kit «instead of your United and City and all the rest» but the upside of playing such attractive football is the club's appeal to Premier League neighbors looking for a suitable environment for their promising young talents. . England Under-21 goalkeeper James Trafford, who currently plays for Burnley in the Premier League, impressed on loan at Bolton last season, as did Liverpool's Conor Bradley. Shola Shoretyre was also on loan at Manchester United and this season Brentford considered Bolton to be the ideal place for midfielder Paris Maghoma to develop.
All this might lead you to think that Evatt will remain in the game until then. as long as he had it — and there was a time when he himself thought so — but his point of view has changed. “I don’t want to do this forever,” he says frankly. “I want to be really successful and achieve as much as I can, but then I want to ‘do life’ so to speak.” I like the idea of a sabbatical on my terms rather than when I'm fired — leaving when things are going well to reset.
“And I also like the idea of leaving from a complete stop. I'm a long way from that place now, but I think I'll get to a place where I can just enjoy the rest of my life.»
In the meantime, Evatt's lofty ambitions for Bolton burn brightly.
p>In the meantime, Evatt's lofty ambitions for Bolton burn brightly.
p>
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