The Rangers academy graduate appointed Airdrie manager at just 29 - Rhys McCabe interview

The tactically adept German coach quickly impressed with his meticulous approach despite tender years and a lack of experience.

It's safe to say faith in youth was rewarded though with outstanding performances and success. Perhaps the ultimate vindication is where Nagelsmann sits now, in the highest managerial office his country's football has to offer as the title-winning manager of Bayern Munich.

And Airdrie will be hoping they have found the Scottish version after appointing former Rangers youngster Rhys McCabe as the youngest manager in Britain, aged 29.

The much-travelled midfielder is to combine playing and managing at the North Lanarkshire club where he performed brilliantly last term under the recently departed Ian Murray.

Management was something McCabe has always had his eye on but even he was taken aback by the speed of his big opportunity

He told the Rangers Review: “I’m 30 in July so it was always on my mind that playing football doesn’t last forever so it was definitely an avenue moving forward that I would’ve liked to go into some kind of coaching role.

“Having signed at Airdrie last season, they asked my thoughts and I kind of put the idea past them that I’d be hoping in the next couple of years to make that transition and the gradual process of getting involved.

“I was in to sort my own contract out with regards to playing and the opportunity came up.

“The idea was put to the club a few months ago from my representatives about coaching in the future but that's as far as it had gone. Then the club had come back to me and said, ‘How would you feel if you went into a player/manager type role?’

“It took me a little bit by surprise but straight away there was excitement and it’s one that I’m obviously looking forward to.

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“Of course, it’ll be a challenge but first and foremost, I’m still going to be playing. It’s not like I’m doing anything part-time or that I’m focusing on one more than the other.

"I’m still fully focused on giving my best and I still think I can bring a hell of a lot to the team with regards to playing. I just have to adapt and take on a different role off the pitch.”

Despite becoming the youngest manager in the country, McCabe says it’s not something that overly concerns him as he feels the game and Airdrie are moving with the times.

He said: “Football’s constantly evolving. I’d imagine in the next 10 or so years, it’ll evolve again.

“The amount of young managers now is growing, especially in the likes of Germany and different places. I think before it was almost like an unwritten rule that you wouldn’t get a job or there weren’t opportunities unless you played the game or retired from the game.

“Nowadays, a lot more people are wanting to get involved. Football now is all about fresh ideas, you see it with the top clubs, they play a vibrant style of football which suits a young man in my opinion.

"That’s not to say everything’s going to be plain-sailing, I know there’ll be challenges as well but the age thing for me doesn’t really bother me because I’ll still be focusing on playing as much as I can.

“But having that backing from the club, it shows a bit of trust and they are trying to move in a different direction which I think the modern game is going down anyway regardless of whether it was now or the next five to 10 years.

“I know, first hand, how important having that enthusiasm on the side of the pitch is. I think the days of having a manager sit back and just watching, overseeing everything is out the window and you can see that with the top managers, they’re animated and they’re passionate.

“I’m enjoying it so far, my phone’s been red hot but I’ve just got to take it all in my stride and try and absorb as much as I can.”

It’s not only McCabe on his trusted backroom team who’s yet to hit 30.

His assistant is also just 29 but he insists the appointment of his cousin Callum Fordyce was a no-brainer.

He said: “He’s a centre-half so he’s got a lot more experience in areas that he’s probably more clued up to give opinions and information on than myself.

“The big thing for me is the trust factor, it’s the biggest thing in football. I’ve got someone I can lean on and you know first-hand he's going to be 100 percent trustworthy with communication.

“We’re on the same path with regards to age and our coaching and manager journeys. The big thing for me is obviously I’ve grown up with him, I’ve known him my whole life so having that trust in there is really an advantage.”

Having just missed out on promotion to the Championship last season, losing to Queen’s Park in the playoff final, McCabe says the philosophy and playing style of the team won’t alter too much.

He said: “The big thing for me is the first game of the season last year, you look at the attendance at home and then you look at the attendances towards the tail end of the season and they increased a hell of a lot.

“It’s all about building on that relationship and connection with the support so they look forward to coming on a Saturday knowing that there is going to be an entertaining game. Obviously, that’s a credit to Ian Murray and Scott Agnew who were in before.

"Foundations have been put in place by these guys and, as a club, it’s been a process in place for three years.

McCabe celebrates after scoring against Queen's Park for Airdrie in the Championship Playoff final

“Playing style is not too dissimilar to how we played last season. I think if you look at some of the results and the performances, they were well documented and highlighted how we played on the front foot.

“We like boys to go out and express themselves and have that freedom that mistakes will happen as long as we’re trying to do the right thing and we’ve got the right principles in place. The basics don’t change, you’re hard-working, you’re hard to beat, you’re honest and you give 100 percent - then your natural ability comes separately.

“We’re obviously looking to tweak maybe two or three things here or there on the training pitch but we don’t want to go in and start changing too many things and for it to go pear-shaped. We’ve got a good core squad so it’s just taking it from where we left off at the end of the season.”

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He may only be 29 but McCabe has had a thorough footballing education. After progressing through the ranks at Ibrox, he made his Rangers debut at 19 before moving down south to join Sheffield Wednesday following the club’s demotion to the bottom tier.

And he may just call upon his former coaches at Auchenhowie as he embarks on the next chapter of his career.

He said: “At Rangers, I was a young boy and having good senior pros about the place was great. The likes of Davie Weir, Allan McGregor and Steven Davis set standards every day in training.

“Obviously, these guys at the time were idols and you looked up to them. You just had to look at them every day, how they prepared themselves and their training, whether it be a light recovery session or preparing for a massive game.

“These guys had standards, regardless of who they were playing against. As young boys, you can’t help but learn. At first, you’re thinking to yourself, ‘Why’s he doing that?’

“It’s only as you get a bit older that you start to realise there’s a reason the likes of Davie Weir played till he was 41, Steven Davis has just signed a fresh deal at 37 and Allan McGregor's playing at 40 and obviously these guys are still at the very top so there’s definitely things we can obviously improve on.

“A few of the guys are still there. Billy Kirkwood’s in the loan department so he has sent me a text and I know Craig Mulholland really well from my Academy days so I’ve got a good relationship with him and I’ve got a lot of time for him as well

“There’s still a lot of guys there where if there’s a phone call needed I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to sit and have a chat.

“We know what we are as a club, we’ve got a lot of young players so having that respect and putting good habits in place is important. We hope to create an environment where young boys can learn and hopefully, they can go on to bigger and better things.

“I would take no greater pleasure than seeing a player develop. You can sit back at the end of the journey and think you've played your part.

“You take little bits from everywhere and now it’s about using those lessons and adding your own wee stamp to it. I’m just really looking forward to it.”