‘Right now I stay in the game’. Ex Rangers coach who couldn’t cut it at Elgin City is now coming to Celtic Park for Champions League business

He said: “Going there was one of the best things I’ve ever done. In Scotland, I started to research why we don’t produce world-class talent. I thought, if I don’t leave here to see what a Champions League player looks like at 14 or 15, how can I ever coach that player? I got an opportunity at Right to Dream but, at that time, I had more potential than talent and they knew it.

“They took a gamble on me. They flew me to Denmark where I went to FC Nordsjaelland. I did a session and signed my contract that day without even travelling to Ghana. With hindsight that was probably a bit risky. But it was an incredible experience, on and off the pitch. The life lessons were amazing.

“When I look back now at Kudus, Diomande, Kamaldeen Sulemana at Southampton, Simon Adingra at Brighton – there are probably six or seven who have been transferred from Ghana for around £150 million. I’ll always back the talent we have in Scotland. The technical players we have are top class. But it’s more about profile. If you look at the upbringing of Ghanaian players, it involves a lot of street football.

“They don’t play with goals, so they don’t practise skills involved with releasing the ball. What they do have is a lot of one-v-ones and dealing with challenging situations. Their first touch, use of their body to protect the ball, their disguise – from a technique point of view, they’re elite. You then add a mindset that I don’t think you can replicate in the UK, or even Germany.

“In the UK if you don’t make it as a footballer, it might hurt you not achieving your dream. But you’ll probably then go on to university and have a good career. The sad reality for players in Ghana is that if they don’t make it, they know their life would look very different.

The best players I’ve seen in Scotland are fantastic releasers of the ball, with their passing or shooting. But it’s never dribbling. You can see that in our national teams. Everyone is crying out for a dribbler. That’s why Ben Doak is a star just now because he’s very different to what we produce. We DO have talent here. But it’s about two things – profile and opportunity.”

That’s a word that comes up often when speaking to Campbell – opportunity. Whether it’s for young players or coaches. The chance to leave boyhood club Rangers for Leipzig was one he couldn’t refuse – despite the language barrier he’s still trying to break down. He can’t wait to return to Glasgow this week, when the Germans take on Celtic in the Champions League at Parkhead.

He said: “From a personal note, I’m looking forward to travelling back home in a different kit. I’ll be with our Under-19s for the CL youth game then I’ll sit with the rest of the RB staff in the stands watching the first-team.

“It will be a really exciting game given the willingness from both teams to attack. Marco is brilliant to work with. One of the first things I had to negotiate was what to call him.