Everyone at Burnley has “something to prove” after relegation from the Premier League last season, says the club’s new head coach Scott Parker.
The 43-year-old succeeded Vincent Kompany, who joined Bayern Munich in a shock move despite the Clarets suffering an immediate return to the Championship.
Parker’s most recent job was at Belgian side Club Bruges, where he was sacked in March 2023 after lasting just 12 games, which he described as a “bad experience”.
The former England midfielder is familiar with English football’s second tier, having guided both Fulham and Bournemouth back to the Premier League.
“As a coach you always have something to prove,” Parker said in his first news conference as Clarets boss.
“I come here with two promotions with two different football clubs but this is a new challenge for me and I think we have all got something to prove.
“This is a team which was relegated last year but had real success the season before in getting out of this division so it’s just not me in that sense, it is everyone who is associated with the club and that’s exactly what we need to do.”
During his spell out of employment, Parker said he spent time working with former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel and had other job offers but he needed time to “recharge”.
Burnley also spoke to Ruud van Nistelrooy and Frank Lampard during their managerial search and Parker said the “long, thorough process” provided him with an “intimate understanding” of the club and the hierarchy.
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