It’s clear now” Ronnie O’Sullivan fancies coaching two different sports after playing career” It’s the best thing” I love it at the running club’ O’Sullivan told Virgin Radio…
Ranked fifth in the world, the Rocket is still going strong in the game. During the previous season, he won five titles, including the UK Championship and the Masters.
However, with his 49th birthday coming up in December he is eyeing up some plans for when he puts his cue away for good.
Those plans include his great passion away from the table as he wants to give something back at the running club, having developed a great love for the sport.
The seven-time world champion of the baize is also a very strong runner and wants to coach anyone who could benefit from his experience in his trainers rather than his waistcoat.
‘It’s the best thing, I love it at the running club,’ O’Sullivan told Virgin Radio. ‘When I finish playing I think I’ll probably get a coaching badge and try to help out at the club with all types of runners.
When I’m free, after I’ve finished playing snooker.
On whether he would be interested in coaching snooker, the Rocket would indeed like to help out, taking on a young player in the way that Ray Reardon, Frank Adamson and Steve Peters all concentrated their efforts on him at times over his career.
I’d like to help a player, I’d love to help a player because there’s loads of times in my career that I’ve got help and it’s transformed my career,’ he said. ‘Ray Reardon, Steve Peters and Frank Adamson, I’m ever so thankful for three people who have changed my life.
If I could maybe help another player develop…I think a lot of it is improving on your weaknesses. A lot of people think they can just pot and break-build, there’s another side to the game that you need to develop.
Also the mental side of it as well, what Steve Peters has done with me. When you’re mentally strong it’s such a tremendous asset to have as a sportsman.’
When O’Sullivan will retire from playing is not clear as he has been hinting at heading into retirement for the majority of his career and is still playing at the top level as he approaches 50.
He suggested again last month that he is nearing the end, not wanting to keep playing past the point at which he is challenging for titles as he feels he is really struggling for his best form at the moment.
‘I don’t want to do what a Hendry done, or a [Steve] Davis done or what Jimmy [White]’s done which is probably played on well past what they were capable of doing any damage in the game,’ he told SportsBoom.
It’s hard because I’m used to feeling a certain way when I’m playing. I’ve tried to figure out what’s going on. To be honest with you, I make so many mistakes now it’s gone beyond a joke.
It is what it is. I’ve just got to try and enjoy it because I haven’t got long left. I’ll be lucky if I’m in the top 16 in two or three years the way I’m playing.’
Mark Allen (family illness) and Dave Gilbert (injury) have also withdrawn, while Mark WIlliams did not enter and Mark Selby fell in qualifying.
That opens the field up somewhat at the ranking event that boasts a top prize of £140,000, which world number one Judd Trump is favourite to claim.
