Craig Fagan Exclusive: Hoping for better at Hull; Learning from Bruce & Shakespeare; My coaching ambitions

Craig Fagan is hoping former club Hull City can find their form in the second half of the season.

Now assistant manager at Maidstone United, Fagan Says his time with The tigers Was his best in the game. It was with Hull where Fagan earned promotion to the Premier League in one of three separate spells with the now Championship club.

Fagan also turned out for the likes of Colchester United, Derby County And Bradford City Before embarking on a coaching career.

In an exclusive interview with Tribal footballFagan discusses various topics, including his career highlights, the teams he played for, his coaching experience and his views on modern football.

Craig, tell us about your best and most challenging experiences as a player…

I enjoyed all my time in football, to be honest. But the most enjoyable time was in Hull City. Being part of back-to-back promotions and then reaching the Premier League was a dream come true. As a child, I always wanted to play at the highest level, and this was incredible. Another highlight was my time at Colchester United after leaving Birmingham Like a fellow. I needed first team football, and at 18, it was an amazing experience.

The most difficult times were at clubs like Gillingham and Bradford, where we struggled. When you’re not winning, there’s a lot of pressure to turn things around, and those moments are definitely tough.

What about as a younger player coming through in hometown club Birmingham City? What was it like to make your senior debut with them?

Playing for Birmingham City meant the world to me. I’ve been at the club since I was eight years old, so to get into the first team was massive. The senior players treated me really well and helped guide me.

Players like Robbie Wilde And Jovan Kirovski Was fantastic to be around, but I also have to mention Michael Johnsonwhich had a great effect on me. He supported me in making key decisions and helped me develop as a player.

The most important thing for me was the feeling of belonging. Despite being a young player, I felt at home. The great players treated me as an equal, and that made my experience unforgettable.

It was in Birmingham where you worked with Steve Bruce. What was he then?

Watching Steve Bruce play for a club like Manchester United was inspiring, so being coached by him felt surreal. He brought a wealth of experience and always commanded respect. During training, I paid close attention to everything he said. He was honest with young players – he would let you know if you didn’t do well, but he would also praise you when you deserved it.

Steve was excellent in managing the team. He knew which players to use in different situations and had a great sense of timing. His career speaks volumes about his quality as a coach.

And in general you played along George Boateng…

George was incredible, both on and off the pitch. He is a very intelligent person and always made time for everyone. On the field, he was a leader and brought a winning mentality to the team. Off the field, we got on really well and still keep in touch to this day.

You could sense his aura and the impact he had on the team. He was knowledgeable about the game and always gave 100% for the club. I have great respect for him and value our friendship.

There was some great talent in Hull during that time. Tell us a little about Jozy Altidore And Jan Vennegor from Hesselink…

They were very different strikers. Josie came from the US. US, and Jan came from Celtic, so they brought unique qualities. Playing for a newly promoted team is difficult, especially for strikers, as chances are hard to come by. Despite this, they both did well, and I enjoyed playing alongside them. They were talented players with great potential.

You also had a year with Nigel Pearson at Hull. How did you find that experience?

Nigel was very different. He has an excellent assistant in Craig Shakespeare, who handles a lot of the coaching. Nigel focused more on managing the team and the personalities within it. Sometimes he found it challenging to lead certain characters, but in general, he was a very good coach.

During my time under him, I was dealing with an injury and had to undergo knee surgery, so I didn’t play as much as I wanted to. However, I still learned a lot from him and appreciated his approach.

You mentioned Craig Shakespeare, who unfortunately passed away recently. What are your memories of working with him?

Craig was fantastic. His sessions are always enjoyable, and he has a very positive way of coaching. Even when you made mistakes, he would correct you in a way that encouraged you to keep trying and improving. His forward-thinking approach made training a pleasure, and his personality brought out the best in players. He will always be remembered as a great coach and an even better person.

So what about Hull this season? What did you make of the campaign?

Honestly, I’m disappointed. Football has changed over the years. It used to be all about results, but now it’s also about style of play. There is a fine line between entertaining fans and securing results. This season, Hull struggled to balance the two. A new manager came in with a specific vision, but it didn’t click. The fans became frustrated, and the results did not come.

Hull is a club with a rich history, passionate fans and the potential to fight for promotion. I hope they can turn things around and get back to where they belong.

Also at Hal you counted Liam Ruiznior as a team. What did you make of his move to Strasbourg?

It has been fascinating to watch Liam transition to coaching. As a player, he was quiet and didn’t ask many questions, so I didn’t see him walking that way at first. But he did an excellent job. He is a great guy and has shown his ability as a manager. At Hull, he’s been good, and I’m sure we’ll see him back in English football soon.

And what about yourself, Craig? Any plans beyond Maidstone at the moment?

Coaching wasn’t something I initially planned for, but I’ve grown to love it. I enjoy helping players improve, setting up a team to win and seeing the results of hard work. Currently, I am an assistant manager, but I would like to become a manager one day. I am constantly learning and striving to become better.

For me, it’s about creating a team that plays attractive football and makes the fans proud. There is nothing better than seeing supporters leave the stadium with smiles on their faces.