Taylor admits.
Russell observes.
he adds.
In an alternate universe, Harry Kane might have donned the gloves of a goalkeeper rather than achieving the title of England’s top goalscorer. On his debut at Ridgeway Rovers, the young Kane eagerly volunteered to take on the goalkeeping role, impressing coach Dave Bricknell with his skills.
“I thought I’d found a goalkeeper,” Bricknell recalls. “At that age, you don’t get many kids that don’t mind standing in front of a ball.”
However, parents quickly pointed out that Kane excelled more as an outfield player. This was not the first instance where Kane nearly ventured into goalkeeping.
Demonstrating his innate talent as a striker, Kane netted over 40 goals in his inaugural season, attracting the attention of Arsenal scout Steve Leonard. While he honed his skills on the pitch, he also trained in goal with coach Alex Welsh.
The question remains: how did this aspiring goalkeeper transition into one of England’s greatest forwards? Coaches from his early years reflect on his unwavering determination and self-confidence, traits that often went unnoticed by others. Some speculate that his experience as a potential goalkeeper enhanced his perspective as a forward.
“The best thing I could ever say about Harry is his resilience,” Bricknell asserts. “He didn’t really care if he missed because he knew another chance would come along, which has held him in great stead.”
Many young players falter when faced with rejection, but Kane remained undeterred after Arsenal released him, returning to Ridgeway Rovers. Soon after, he caught the eye of Tottenham Hotspur’s Mark O’Toole. Though he faced another setback, scoring against Spurs during a loan at Watford led to his return.
“Having two caring parents, guiding him the right way, he’s had a stable relationship most of his life, that keeps you grounded,” Bricknell explains. This support proved invaluable during his numerous loan spells at Spurs, a time when many questioned if he would ever secure a first-team position. It was during this phase that he received a call-up to England’s under-20 team for the World Cup in Turkey, where disappointment awaited him once again.
Coach Peter Taylor recognized Kane’s strengths, particularly his finishing ability and efficiency in front of goal. Yet, like many others, he could not have predicted the remarkable path Kane would eventually take.
“If you’d asked me if he was going to go back from that tournament and all of a sudden get into Spurs’s first team and have the career he’s had, I would’ve said: ‘I hope he does, because you couldn’t meet a nicer boy, but probably not.’ He’s put his heart and soul into his career.”
Kane also showcased his lightheartedness. Taylor, who had a two-month contract, assembled the team on short notice. To foster camaraderie, he organized a golf putting competition at their hotel. While most players arrived in standard training gear, Kane was fully decked out in golf attire, complete with hat and gloves. “He’s come down as if he’s going to play the Open,” Taylor recalls. “Harry’s great company. He was quietly confident he was going to have a good career. You could just tell there’s something about him – he was confident. It wasn’t a case of ‘football owes me a living’; it was: ‘I’m gonna work me socks off to have one.’”
Despite a talented squad, including John Stones and Ross Barkley, England finished at the bottom of their group, recording one goal from Kane but drawing twice and losing to Iraq, Chile, and Egypt.
On the return ferry from Turkey, Taylor enjoyed a conversation with Kane. “I believe Harry Kane is the best player in the world in terms of mental strength, willpower and endeavour,” Taylor reflects.
The following season, in 2013-14, he received extended playing time with Spurs under Tim Sherwood, finishing with four goals. The subsequent season, under Mauricio Pochettino, Kane truly emerged, scoring 31 goals in 51 appearances, including 21 in the league, earning his first Premier League Golden Boot in 2016.
Initially, Kane and Pochettino struggled to connect. Pochettino encountered a frustrated striker who was skeptical about another manager prioritizing new signings over academy talent. The coach was not initially convinced by Kane’s style.
Kane favored a traditional approach: holding the ball up and positioning himself in the box for scoring opportunities. Pochettino, however, envisioned a more dynamic forward who pressed from the front, regained possession, and roamed freely, which ultimately transformed Kane into the modern forward he is today.
Pochettino challenged Kane, emphasizing the need for improved fitness and dedication. Kane responded positively, purchasing a second home near the training facility to ensure he could be the first to arrive and the last to leave each day.
“He is completely focused on his football.” Pochettino stated in his 2017 book,Brave New World. “Harry had a quiet, powerful, strong aura about him,”
Five years after that under-20 World Cup, Kane found himself in a World Cup semi-final.
Gareth Southgate also played a pivotal role in Kane’s development, constructing teams around the striker that achieved unprecedented success for England. In 2017, Southgate brought in Allan Russell, a former striker with a wealth of experience, as a coach.
“Over the years, it turned into a self-assurance that he just cannot be nudged off track, whatever happens.” Russell notes. “Is he a nice guy? No. He’s a good guy. Nice guys get taken advantage of, seem to be a little bit softer. He’s mastered that fine line. Other players will act selfish, and their behaviours will come across as maybe arrogant. Those traits come out in Harry in his ability to score goals.”
Improving a Premier League Golden Boot winner is no easy task. Russell highlighted that while some players require coaching, others need to be challenged – Kane firmly falls into the latter category. Those who have met him often remark on his genuine and amiable demeanor. Yet, that persona contrasts sharply with the ruthless arrogance some believe is necessary to succeed at the highest level.
“He’s like: ‘I’m playing,’” Russell comments. “‘Every game – I want to score goals, I want to break records.’ That’s his mentality. “Now he is older and wiser. He manages his energy levels better in games. He manages triggers on when to press. He manages when he comes deep. You’re probably seeing him at his prime. “The tournaments I had with him, you could see him starting to dip towards the end. That could be mental fatigue, because he carries the team a lot as captain. Now he’s matured into a true leader, maybe the anxiety and stress of being captain is no longer a big drain on his energy levels; maybe it’s allowed him to go and flourish more.”
After Kane scored twice against the Democratic Republic of the Congo to secure a win for England, Russell sent him a congratulatory text, praising his performance.
Russell wrote: Amazing, H. Always pulling it out of the bag for your team.
Kane responded: Thanks Al, I know you’ll enjoy that second finish.
Remarkably, during this World Cup, Kane appears to be in the best form of his career. Approaching his 33rd birthday just nine days after the final, he has already matched his six-goal tally from 2018. As England’s leading scorer, he surpassed Gary Lineker’s record and even outperformed Pelé.
Russell recalls a conversation in Lithuania, where he advised Kane that he could skip a friendly match if he wanted to rest. Kane’s response was unequivocal: “I wouldn’t put it past him.” he said. “‘Every game – I want to score goals, I want to break records.’ That’s his mentality.
“Now he is older and wiser. He manages his energy levels better in games. He manages triggers on when to press. He manages when he comes deep. You’re probably seeing him at his prime,”
“The tournaments I had with him, you could see him starting to dip towards the end. That could be mental fatigue, because he carries the team a lot as captain. Now he’s matured into a true leader, maybe the anxiety and stress of being captain is no longer a big drain on his energy levels; maybe it’s allowed him to go and flourish more,”
As for Kane’s future in World Cups? “I wouldn’t put it past him.”
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