Rhys Williams on EPL interest and establishing his international status

There is an assured nature about Rhys Williams. A million miles away from arrogance, but a conviction in his talent that suggests the Perth-born youngster is destined for great things. In fact, it is at this point that FourFourTwo would like to make a prediction: Rhys Williams will captain the Socceroos one day. Not in a meaningless friendly when the captain goes off and tosses the nearest player his armband. Williams will be an established captain, maybe leading the team out at the opening game of Russia 2018.

You could dismiss this prediction as hyperbole – a biased magazine throwing additional pressure on a youngster with just five caps and a wealth of knowledge still to be learned. But our claim is not without evidence. Despite injury robbing Williams of a World Cup bow in South Africa, he recovered from that set-back to impress in a range of positions for his English Championship club Middlesbrough last season.

His current coach, Tony Mowbray, a hugely respected mentor who plays an attractive style of football described Williams as a “Rolls Royce” of a player last season. We could not agree more – there is a class and composure around Williams that more suitably befits a seasoned pro who has proved their worth. The youthful over-exuberance which borders on a headless chicken is nowhere to be seen. Despite his age, Williams is already one of the most composed Socceroos on the pitch.

 Recently, there has been EPL interest from another hugely talented coach in Bolton’s Owen Coyle, who has taken a look at Williams and is reportedly keen to recruit the Aussie. Mowbray has stood firm, insisting that Williams is staying put as they attempt promotion to the EPL. Socceroo coach Holger Osieck makes it a trio of dugout admirers.  “I like Rhys very much,” said the German in June. “He is so versatile, he can play centre-half, he can play holding midfield. Rhys is an excellent boy. He has a lot to offer.”

There is no doubt Williams can play, in a variety of positions too, and is highly rated by some excellent coaches. But that is not enough to claim future Socceroo captain status. FourFourTwo have met Williams twice now and each time been impressed by his calm, collected and intelligent approach. He is also hugely marketable, as our pictures attest. Combine all these factors and we might have found our next Socceroos captain.

We met Williams in the Intercontinental Hotel in Melbourne recently to discuss the heartbreak of missing the World Cup in South Africa, his return to the pitch with Middlesbrough, EPL interest and his hopes of establishing a regular place in the Socceroos.

Last year you missed the World Cup due to an injury. How disappointing was that and how is the injury now?
It was a nightmare to be honest! It was like a horror film the way I felt after that. Words can’t describe how bad it felt after being told I wasn’t in the squad, but I had tried my hardest to make the squad. It was all I could really think about at the time. It really was horrible.

Was it a fair call though?
It definitely was, yes. I wouldn’t want to play for my country if I couldn’t give it one hundred and ten percent. I was struggling and was nowhere near my maximum at all. I couldn’t run without pain and I couldn’t pass without pain, so it might have been a blessing in disguise that the injury flared up as much as it did so I didn’t disappoint people.

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There was talk that the injury was mishandled. Any truth to that?
Yes and no. A lot of it is down to me, I could have been stronger and said 'I want to sit this one out'. But as a young lad, you just want to play football and for the love of the game you want to play as many games as you can. It was my first full season in the first team so I just wanted to show the manager that I wanted to play for them.

Middlesbrough didn't quite have the season you had hoped last term. Why was that?
It is hard to put your finger on it. The manager changed halfway through and that was hard to take. We also didn't get off to a good start. I didn't play the start of the season so I wasn't there either so that makes it more difficult to say. We picked up as the season went on and ended up finishing 12th, which is good seeing as though we were in the bottom four at one point, so it was a good finish at least.

You were one of the favourites to win the Championship before the start though...
We were second or third favourite so it was a big title to live up to. It just wasn't our season, and neither was the season before, but with this manager [Tony Mowbray] I'm sure we can turn things around and hopefully push for promotion next season.

How about purely on a personal level? How do you think the season went?
For myself it was just about getting back from injury. I was delighted with that and have remained fit since then too. I played 12 games, got five or six man-of-the-match awards, so I couldn't be happier with the comeback and obviously coming back into the national team too.

How do you feel about the prospect of another season in the Championship?
It will be good for me, because of the amount of games we play. I need to get a lot of games under my belt, and with this manager and the team, I think we can get promoted - it's exciting times ahead for the club. I can't wait to get back and it will be good to hopefully have a good start and push for that promotion.

There was talk of Bolton being interested. Has Premier League interest turned your head at all?
Yes and no. I'm contracted to Middlesbrough and really enjoying my time at the club, so I don't want to leave to be honest. It's just nice to know people are watching me after only eleven starts, but I am just happy to be playing football again.

Has Tony Mowbray spoken to you directly about where your future lies?
He wants me to stay. He said I am a big part of his plans and that's good for a manager to show faith in you like that. I'm looking forward to the season and staying with Mowbray. I'm sure he can bring the players in that he wants and turn things around.

What has Mowbray bought to the side since being appointed?
He's brought belief. Training is also a lot more chilled out and the lads are getting plenty of rest for game days. He believes in his players, he tells us to go out and play football and all the boys are enjoying it. He got promoted with West Brom so he's got experience in this league. So he knows what it takes to go up, which is the main thing at this level - it's a very hard league to get out of.

He's got a reputation for playing attractive, passing football. How does that suit you?
It suits me down to the ground! I don't like these long balls over the top all the time - I like playing football and Mowbray is encouraging it with all the boys so it's good. It is exciting times ahead and all the boys are looking forward to the challenge.

Where has he been playing you?
I've played more or less up front, as a striker, centre-midfield, right-midfield, right-back, centre-back, and left-back! It has been a pretty up and down season position-wise but I'm happy. As long as I'm playing I'm happy. I played most of my games as centre-back and did well. We lost just one game of the last 12 where I featured, so it's a good record to have under my belt.

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Where do you prefer to play?
Centre-midfield or centre-back. I know I'll come away with the national team and play right-back, and I think that is purely down to just getting experience and the manager sees me as a right-back. But as I say, as long as I'm playing, I'm happy!

What's it like being that sort of versatile player? It can frustrate some players who struggle to be able to make one position their own.
That's true. It works for some people, it doesn't work for some people, but I'm just enjoying football - centre-midfield, centre-back - there's not too much difference.

Promotion is obviously the number one aim next season, how likely do you think it's going to be? Mowbray's talking about getting rid of some of the higher earning players. Can you still get promoted if you lose some of those stars?
Definitely. If we get rid of some higher earners, we can bring in three or four more which gives us strength and depth. He [Mowbray] needs to put his stamp on things. He's done well so far with the squad he was given, he lifted us from the bottom four to finishing top half. All this squad wanted to do was to finish strong but I think next season we'll have a real push for it.

Onto the Socceroos, what's the feeling in the camp at the moment? A lot is changing with a new set of players like yourself coming through.
It's good, the squad has changed so much and it's great to see a lot of the young boys play. There are four or five of us that are the same age now, and played against each other along the line when we were younger, so it's nice to have a few young boys in to be given a chance now. We proved a lot during the recent games against New Zealand and Serbia.

And Holger, how have you been getting along with him?
The nicest guy - a really nice guy! A good bloke who wants us to play good football. Confidence, he gives us confidence. He's a good motivator, he's a really good manager and I have enjoyed working under him.

What's his man-management style? Does he speak to you individually?
He's good like that. He keeps a lot to himself too. For example, on match days he likes to name his team on the day which ensures that everyone needs to be ready. Sometimes when you get told earlier that you're not playing then you tend to do things differently. Telling us on match days keeps everyone aware and doing everything right ready for the game.

He seems to have an air of 'been there, done that' after being in the game for so long. Does that rub off on the players? He seems very confident?
Definitely. You need a manager that shows confidence. If the manager is not confident then the players won't be either. That is good man-management.

We have talked about your different roles at Middlesbrough, is it a similar situation with the Socceroos too?
It is the same in the sense that I will play wherever the manager wants to play me. I would love to call a place my own in the Socceroos but I know I'm not quite there yet, so I'll keep working hard for my club and hopefully I can make one of those spots my own.

It's a long 2014 World Cup qualification process, during which you will be flying to and from Asia. How is your club side going to feel about that tough schedule?
The flights are probably the least of my problems. We get business flights everywhere, and playing-wise they have got unbelievable staff here. Our physio, Les Gelis, looks after me a lot, he looked after Harry Kewell with his groin as well, so I'm more than happy to work with him. I want to do every session and I want to let the manager know that I'm ready.   

Rhys is wearing a Nike Persistent Infringement tee (RRP $40) and a Nike Fused Windrunner ($180). For Nike stockist information, ring 1300 656 453.

This article appeared in the September 2011 issue of Australian FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.

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