Stowell: Austria Trip An Invaluable Experience
- Mike Stowell reflects on Leicester City's stay in Austria this week
- The City first team and goalkeeper coach says it will be invaluable to their season
- Stowell is confident the Foxes can make yet more history in the years to come
Speaking in Austria, the 52-year-old provided a rare insight into his role at the Club, his tight working relationship with manager Craig Shakespeare and his thoughts on what City can achieve over the coming years. This week, the Foxes have enjoyed a hugely beneficial six-day training camp in Velden and Stowell started by reflecting on what is now an annual occasion.
“For me, it’s the most important week of pre-season,” he told LCFC TV. “We keep them here and do double sessions, they’re away, and there are no distractions. It’s really hard work in good conditions and we get some invaluable work out of them. It was Nigel [Pearson] who brought it in because, normally in pre-season, you go away and play games.
“The games are a bit of a distraction because they’re not competitive games and they take away training time. Whereas this is a training camp and, when I say training camp, we get up early in the morning, we feed them and we look after them all through the day. For 24 hours a day, we’re doing something for the lads and it is great bonding for them to be here.”
Much has been made of City’s team spirit. It has helped the Club win both Championship and Premier League titles in record-breaking fashion. Sandwiched between those two campaigns, Leicester also beat the odds in other ways. Firstly, they won seven of their last nine in 2014/15 to prevent relegation before reaching the last eight of the UEFA Champions League last term.
“The lads are as honest as the day is long,” Stowell added. “This bunch of lads that we have here are great. Even when they’re stiff and you get them out in the afternoon, like we have at 5pm tonight, they’re still smashing balls around and chasing each other. They’ve definitely got sharper and fitter but they came back in great condition. Even the internationals who have just joined us are in the full flow so it’s been a really valuable week.”
Stowell Gives Austria Update
First Team and Goalkeeper Coach Mike Stowell gives an update on the squad's progress in Austria this week.
Stowell’s bike rides in Austria have become a familiar spectacle for the locals in Austria. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper continued his chat with LCFC TV by revealing how he even takes the backroom staff out for separate 15 mile sessions. It is vital for the overall mind-set of the group, Stowell says, for them to develop a strong work ethic during pre-season.
He said: “I do a traditional one with the players which I did yesterday. I don’t tell them everywhere they’re going, I’m the only person who knows so they can’t sneak off and go back. I always find a hill and, in Austria there is quite a few hills, so like today I’ve been out with the staff and taken them on a 25 mile bike ride to introduce them to it.
“It’s a mind-set and everyone needs that mind-set.”
Stowell has witnessed both extremes at the Club since he joined. Relegation to League 1, two promotions, Play-Off heartbreak and European football have been features of his time at King Power Stadium. His own stock has risen steadily throughout that time, too, and now he is a trusted figure in Shakespeare’s coaching team.
“Over the last six or seven years, I’ve been down as first team and goalkeeper coach, so I take set pieces, defending and shooting sessions,” he continued.
“I enjoy the whole role. Football is football, it’s fantastic and I have a good rapport with the players. Over the years, I’ve been stepping into the management side and with [Shakespeare], he values our opinions. I work with them all day; I’m refereeing and coaching and it is invaluable to see these players.
“[Shakespeare’s] bubbly, he’s bright and we have to be like that. He doesn’t get too excited when we win and he doesn’t get too down when we lose. But he is very, very competitive underneath that nice demeanour. He is a very, very tough character.”
Looking forward to next season and beyond, Stowell believes there are yet more chapters to be written to the Leicester City story.
“Leicester City is Leicester City, there is never a dull moment,” he concluded. “This is my 13th season here now, it’s just a pleasure to be here. The people around here, the staff we have created, the players… it’s been a journey. Believe it or not, I think we’ve got more in us. There are journeys to be had and more stories to be told and I hope we’re going to be here and be a part of it over the next 13 years.”
As the Foxes leave for Hong Kong this weekend ahead of the Premier League Asia Trophy, don't miss a thing from the camp on LCFC.com.