By Stephen Eighteen

It is fair to say that Colin Lee, with his ice baths, motivational videos and individual training programmes, is a coach with modern ideas.

By rights then, Stephen Constantine should fit into the leafy retreat that is Millwall's Ravensbourne training ground quite perfectly.

If possessing every coaching badge under the sun and managing and coaching in five different countries over three continents elevates someone into the 21st century, where in the future do they sit as a football coach with their own website in three different languages?

The internet medium has become a big part of football as far as official websites and the latest news and opinion is concerned, but a coach publicising their skills online puts them ahead of the game to such a degree that a decade's worth of record breaking summer heatwaves may not be long enough for the trend to catch on.

"The purpose of having a website was to let people know that I am out there," Constantine said. "I have had it for six to seven years. It's a way of getting people to have a look at you and see what you're doing and what you're capable of. I don't advertise it anywhere. It is also written in Japanese and Greek and I get hundreds of e-mails from coaches all over the world who want advice on how to go about doing qualifications. People who want to know about me will go and see me and make their own mind up."

The CV section of www.stephenconstantine.co.uk describes the career of a 42-year-old coach who has done a remarkable amount in such a short space of time.

As a player, Constantine was a midfielder who was used as a goalkeeper when required. He never made it as a professional in the English game and was turned down by Millwall manager George Petchey in a trial in 1978. So Constantine headed to USA, where his career was brought to a premature end at the age of 28 when he suffered a torn cruciate knee ligament while playing for the New York Freedoms.

But Constantine had already started taking his FIFA coaching badges and knew that coaching was what he wanted to do. In 1990 he became academy director of the Freedoms, and two years later the half-Cypriot began a highly successful seven-year spell in various coaching and managerial positions in Cyprus.
By the end of the decade he had taken over as head coach of the Nepal national team, taking them to the final of the Asia Cup, and last spring finished a three-year spell in charge of India.

"I had a three-year contract at India," Constantine said. "They wanted me to stay on for another year but my wife was pregnant at the time and I felt I'd done enough there and wanted to come back to England."

One thing that endeared Constantine to Millwall supporters before he'd even worked for the club was his wholehearted desire to become part of the establishment. It was well known that, prior to Steve Claridge's appointment, he applied for the manager's job with an experienced number two. With supporters keen to find out more, Constantine was open and honest, stating his love for the club and desire to be a part of it by replying to numerous e-mails, and even accepting the request of an interview with a website fanzine editor.
The Marylebone-born and north London-bred coach added: "I always followed Millwall's results. I had a couple of games as a trialist and that leaves an impression.

"I always had a soft spot for the club." Constantine spoke to Burnige, but never got to the interview stage, but renewed his interest when Colin Lee took over and went public on his desire for new coaches.

"I sent my CV to Colin and he told me to come in," he revealed. After meeting with the manager, Constantine was given a month from the end of August to demonstrate his coaching credentials with a view to a permanent appointment.

"This is all I have ever wanted," said Constantine. "I love working with players and working at the sharp end.
It's really difficult to get a job at the moment and there's not many other managers who would take me in.
Colin Lee doesn't know me from Adam, but has taken me in and given me an opportunity and I want to repay his faith. They could have got a million other coaches, but it's been a pleasure so far and I hope I can contribute to the future success of Millwall Football Club."

So far, the omens for a longer-term contract look good. Constantine has been in charge of a number of training sessions, is already a presence in the dugout on matchdays, and takes the players on their pre-match warm-up routines. What's more, Lee has publicly praised the new man over the weekend for fostering team spirit.
"The lads like him," he said.
"He comes from a developing football background and he's now in a more pressurised situation. His methods aren't very different to mine.
"We've got what I consider to be a very, very good coaching set up here."

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