2 days ago
Steven Gerrard's former assistant rejects chance to take on job in Turkey amid interest from clubs in England and the United States
Dean Holden has rejected the chance to become manager of Turkish side Adana Demirspor.
The 45-year old has been working as assistant coach with Adana but, following relegation from the top flight, the club hierarchy have asked if he wished to take over the main job of earning promotion back to Super Lig at the first attempt.
Holden, who was previously assistant to Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq, also has interest from other clubs in England and offers to coach in the MLS.
The former Manchester United trainee still has a year left on contract out in Turkey so is assessing his options.
Holden has introduced individual development plans at Adana Demirspor and spoken of big improvements in their young players.
'I felt that I could probably accelerate my learning far quicker coming here than going back to England,' said Holden about his experience in Turkey, where he has been living at the club's training ground. 'I wanted to put myself in the most challenging environment I could. Can it work in another language? Can I have an impact? You are working through a translator, so you have to be really concise and clear. It is all about finding a connection with a player.'
Holden has previously managed at Oldham Athletic, Bristol City, Stoke and Charlton Athletic.
On his time with Gerrard and Al Ettifaq, he said: 'Steven Gerrard sees the game differently, as his assistant I learned so much. He empowered me to be creative and come up with ideas, to challenge him. He's a really generous guy and I was grateful for the opportunity – I felt like I got five years of experience from him in a year.
