‘Rangers fans will hate me' – David Martindale reveals how he once helped European opponents ahead of clash with Gers
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DAVIE MARTINDALE helped Ruben Amorim prepare for big European clashes with Rangers and Aberdeen.
But he joked the Portuguese boss has forgotten who he is now he's in the big time with Man Utd.
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David Martindale gave Ruben Amorim a helping hand
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
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The gaffer faced two Scottish oppositions previously
Credit: Getty
The Livi gaffer did his coaching badges in Northern Ireland with Amorim and West Ham number two Bruno Saltor.
Martindale helped the Old Trafford boss get ready for facing the Gers while standing in at Braga and then sent him Livi's prep notes when Sporting Lisbon faced Aberdeen six months later.
He revealed: 'I did my coaching badges with Ruben Amorim and Bruno Saltor, who is at West Ham now, so I know them both fairly well.
'We did it with the IFA and it just so happened that when I was getting up they were kicking about for breakfast too, so we used to sit together.
'It was a two-week intensive course doing the B and A licences, the year before Covid.
'Ruben was the manager of the Braga B team then the manager of the first-team got sacked, so he stepped in.
'He phoned me right after it because they got Rangers in Europe and asked what I could tell him about them.
'He wasn't able to sit in the dugout because we hadn't finished the whole course by then so they had to put an old guy who had his pro-licence there instead.
'Ruben wasn't allowed to take the team so he stayed away from it, I think he sat in the stand or stood behind the dugouts.
'Rangers fans will hate me, but I sent him our stuff because we'd just played Rangers. That's what happens in football, everyone helps each other out.
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'Rangers beat them anyway - I think those were the only defeats he had as Braga manager in 12 or 14 games.
'On the back of that he got the Sporting Lisbon job - and in his first season he drew Aberdeen!
'I had him on the phone again asking me for my stuff on Aberdeen because we'd just played them before as well.
'I got my 'fit and proper' stuff through and Ruben messaged me 'great Davie, I'm delighted for you'.
'Fast forward to last season and he gets the Man United job so I messaged him to say well done, congratulations.
'I'm still waiting for him to text me back!!
'I keep checking my phone but it's never come through!
'It's brilliant he's got that job and I think with Ineos getting the structures there sorted, it'll be a great fit long-term.'
Martindale keeps in touch with Saltor and revealed he even tried to get the ex-Brighton star to come out of retirement and sign for Livi.
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He said: 'Bruno was a great guy as well, he had just retired at Brighton when Graham Potter and Billy Reid went in there.
'So, me being Scottish, he reckoned I must have known Billy, which I didn't!
'I actually wanted to sign Bruno for Livingston. We did a few wee drills when we were on the courses and you're in them.
'I remember looking at him thinking he'd stroll it playing for us. He was 36 or something at that time.
'I asked him if he wanted to come here but he just laughed at me!
'I'm pretty sure I offered him a coaching job here as well, but he was in at Brighton and since then he's worked at Chelsea and now West Ham.
'We had a good group, we had Luis Garcia, Chris Samba, Gabby Agbonlahor, Craig Gardner and a few others.
'Covid happened during it so it ended up taking us longer to do it than it usually would have.
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Amorim in the dugout when facing Rangers in 2020
Credit: Reuters
'On the Pro-Licence I had Antoine Sibierski and I got him up here to work with the lads but it makes you remember your age.
'I was telling the boys 'it's Sibierski, he played for Man City and Newcastle' but they had no idea.
'So I had to tell them he'd have had loads of French caps if it wasn't for Zidane!
'Meeting these people is what it's all about. He's at Troyes now, director of football there and we keep in touch.
'I really enjoyed doing them, it was difficult when you're in a job because of the time involved, but it's a great way to meet people and network.
'You keep in touch with the people in your group, everyone who does it is the same.
'This year is the first year I've not had the distraction of not having one to do because I've got all the badges now and I have to admit, I'm missing it.
'I hope they bring out another one, maybe an Advanced Pro-Licence or something. If they do, I'll sign up for it.'
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