Allistair McCaw is known around the globe as a leadership and sports performance expert who has worked with some of sport’s biggest stars.
The Northern Ireland-born South African has helped tennis heavyweights such as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer and travels the world talking to athletes and clubs including the likes of Paris St Germain and Benfica.
A 2022 visit to Dundee, however, caused controversy among football fans after he posted on social media that the city’s two clubs should consider merging.
McCaw was leaving the city after talking to young players and staff at Dundee FC and was previously a guest speaker for Dundee United in 2020.
“Solution to the city of Dundee football,” he said on Twitter in May 2022.
“Long-standing rivalry. Fact is both in struggle more ways than one.
“Cut traditions and merge both to become Dundee City FC.”
McCaw suggested a merged Dundee club could consolidate its’ academy efforts, be more financially viable, create “unity” amongst the city’s football fans and work together to build a shared, modern stadium.
To say it went down like a lead balloon would be an understatement.
‘I put it out there’
This week he returned to speak once more with Dundee academy players, parents and coaches and says he understands the criticism that headed his way after his last time in the city.
“I heard there was a reaction but I don’t spend too much time with the comments section,” he told the Courier.
Wow, Dundee, you are awesome! It was an honor to speak to over 350+ people at today’s “Performance Mindset” event held @dundee_angus Also a massive thanks to @JamieMcBrearty & Caryn Gibson. pic.twitter.com/NlDHw6iQRy
— Allistair McCaw (@AllistairMcCaw) February 28, 2023
“It was just a feeling I had and I put it out there. Who knows? Who knows what happens in the future?
“Listen, I get it. I was born in Belfast, from a small age I’ve been brought up with the Rangers-Celtic derby rivalry.
“I understand in a city tensions can run high.”
Champion-minded
Though his impact on social media drew anger from football fans, the reaction from Dundee FC after his talk was far more positive.
So much so that they invited the best-selling author back on Tuesday, shortly after speaking to students at D&A College and a day after visiting Rangers.
“For me it’s about sharing what I have seen in successful cultures, successful teams, leadership structures,” McCaw said.
“With athletes it’s about the mindset of a champion, one of the books I have written ‘Champion Minded’ which is really about the work ethic, the commitment and the attitude you bring every day.
“Skills are teachable but your attitude is a choice.
“That’s the message I try to bring across to young people, not just in sport but across life. The attitude you bring will be the most important choice you make.
“Through things like football and the opportunities provided by being at a club like Dundee is what they can learn, the skills in life they can pick up.
“Things like working hard, having a good attitude – you will be rewarded for that.
“The only person you can help in the end is yourself. You can have all these tools, you can have all advice but, at the end of the day, you make the choice.
“For a young athlete, things like getting enough sleep, not scrolling social media at 11pm at night, the right hydration, nutrition and the advantages of doing extra work.
“Being early to practice, well prepared and staying afterwards to work on things, asking for feedback from coaches.
“These are small things but they help you become a better player or person.”
Dundee reaction
Dundee’s head of academy Stephen Wright was delighted to have McCaw back at the club to talk to the youngsters at the club.
He said: “We are really lucky to have someone with the experience of Allistair McCaw coming to speak to us again.
“It reaffirms a lot of things we work on at Dundee and the feedback from last year was very good.
“We had more parents there this time as well as some of our partners like St John’s High School, Hawkhill Harriers and Kanzen Karate.
“There were some key messages there and we hope it has a real positive influence.”
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