At 38, a long term injury would usually bring a player’s career to a holt, but not Jobi McAnuff, who has longed to “get back on the pitch and enjoy it.”
The former Jamaican international and Reading Captain continues to push his limits on the pitch along side his new coaching role at Leyton Orient, whilst also balancing media appearances on Sky Sports.
The experienced midfielder has spent the majority of the 19/20 season recovering from a serious knee injury picked up last May and finally returned to the pitch in early march to face Cambridge United – only for the season to get suspended as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Having joined the O’s coaching staff at the beginning of the season, Jobi’s long recovery had been aided by his heavy involvement from the dugout.
Recovery
“I’ve missed it loads. It has been slightly different for me to a usual injury because I’ve been heavily involved with everything off the pitch. When you’re injured you miss the match days, but I’ve still had that in a sense on the side-line. That’s helped my massively. I have concentrated on coaching rather than focusing on the injury.”
Jobi’s commitment to coaching has meant he has put in the extra hours at the training ground to complete his rehab.
“I’ve been doing my rehab when most of the team have left in the afternoon because during the mornings, I’m focusing on what the team needs. I’ve really enjoyed being apart of the coaching staff.”
Having made over 600 professional appearances in football for clubs including Crystal Place, West Ham and Watford, the O’s number seven explained that working so hard last year to earn promotion from the National League has encouraged him to return to action and taste the Football League again.
“First and foremost, we worked so hard to get back into the Football League. For me, I dropped out of it and it was always my goal to get back. To work so hard and have the potential of playing taken away had been something I really didn’t want.
That’s what has driven me on this year, to get back on the pitch. I’m disappointed it has taken as long as it has but there’s been complications. It hasn’t been a straight-forward injury from my point of view. I’ve always had that bit of light at the end of the tunnel. A target; to get back for the final run in, get back on the pitch and enjoy it.”
Coaching
McAnuff discussed having to find the balance between sustaining existing relationships with teammates and establishing himself as a coach.
“I think I have been fairly fortunate. Given my experience and my position within the group, first and foremost I’m still a player and I get on with all the boys on that level. There’s a balance to be had. I’m involved in a lot of conversations, information and decisions that have to be made. Last season I had a great relationship with Justin and the backroom staff.
“It’s probably a better question for the boys! I feel it has been fairly smooth. You have to dip in and out. It’s been interesting recently, one minute I’m wearing red with the players and then suddenly I’m in the black coaching tracksuit. I’ve really enjoyed it. It has had its unique challenges and it’s all a part of the experience. One I have learnt a lot from this season.”
In The Box & On The Box
As if playing and coaching wasn’t enough, McAnuff is a familiar face on Sky Sports News as well as Sky’s coverage of EFL games – something that he relishes.
“It’s something I really enjoy…For me, it’s a secondary focus. My priority is football. If I can do bits and bobs around it, the people that I have worked with have always been understanding of that. They always take into account my schedule with Leyton Orient. If there’s things I can do off the back of that, it is an area that I enjoy.
“I’ve done more this year…I have to be realistic. I’m 38. The end is going to come in terms of football. It has given me a real good insight a different line of work. I’m certainly interested in it and can see myself going down that path at some point.
“I’m still keen to stay part of the coaching side of things. That is my real passion. Being in and around any football club, but especially one as good as this. There are so many good people here. It has been a balancing act, as most of this season has been. I hope I have got the balance right. The biggest thing for me is I’m enjoying all aspects of it. I’m in a good place.”
Looking Forward
Though the recent coronavirus outbreak has disrupted the current season; when football eventually returns, a sparkling, diverse CV is sure to give the Leyton Orient Captain options. Having enjoyed over two decades in the game, McAnuff hopes to keep hold of the happiness he has found in football in the coming years of his career.
“For a lot of footballers, it is such a daunting thing because all we have ever known is football. I’ve wanted to play since school. It only becomes a real idea when you’re like 13, 15. You go through a youth team and you’re still not guaranteed anything.
“From 18, when I got in and around the first team I thought, this is what I want to do for a job. You have to earn money and pay your bills. I have been very fortunate to do that for the last 20 years. Given my age, I’m aware the playing stops. I’ve seen some lads really struggle. Sudden injuries, lack of contract offers, falling out of the game and then suddenly you don’t have anything to fall back into.
You fall out of that routine. We get up. Come in. Train. You play your matches. To say where I am going to be in ten years is a difficult thing to do. Right now, I’m trying to give myself as many options as I can. If I can do something and be as happy as I have been the last twenty years, then I’ll be delighted no matter what it is.”
