‘He’s the best player I’ve played with and the biggest inspiration on my career to date’ - Ben Whiteman on why retaining James Coppinger was vital for Doncaster Rovers

Coppinger has signed up for one final season with Rovers as he draws to a close his storied professional career.

The 39-year-old is labelled as inspirational by Whiteman, with whom he has developed a close relationship during their shared time at the club.

And Whiteman believes having someone with Coppinger’s ability on the pitch and guiding hand off it is key for Rovers as they enter a testing campaign.

“It’s a massive achievement for Copps but the club as well - not just for what he brings on the pitch because he’s a fantastic player, but for what he does off it,” he told the Free Press.

“I’ve said it countless times, he’s the best player I’ve played with and he’s the biggest inspiration on my career to date in the way that he handles himself.

“His experience, the way he wants to help younger players and older players as well.

“He’s someone you can definitely learn from in every aspect of life.”

As captain, Whiteman says he will point any of his team mates in the direction of Coppinger for advice - and include himself also.

The veteran has been a regular sounding board for the 24-year-old - and he expects that to continue long after Coppinger’s retirement.

“I think, especially with him, you need to learn from him whatever stage of your career you’re at,” Whiteman said. “You need to take his advice in.

“I think it’s why me and him get on so well on and off the pitch. We’re willing to learn. We have disagreements about things. But we speak on Sundays about Saturday’s game and where we think we could have done better or where things went well.

“I think it’s just the love of football we have and it’s why we’re close mates.

“I think we’ll definitely stay close because of how we speak off the pitch. If there’s any football on, we’ll always chat.

“He’s been a massive inspiration for me but he’s also one of my best mates in football.

“He’s been a massive help for me, him being club captain and me being the team captain, especially with everything over wage deferrals. I thought it was handled really well and the squad deserve credit for doing that for the football club to get through the hard times together.”

Coppinger continues to be one of Rovers’ top performers on the pitch. Last season, he netted four goals and contributed nine assists in 33 appearances.

Whiteman believes Coppinger’s performances in his advancing years are inspiration enough for team mates.

He said: “He’s going to be 40-years-old soon and he’s still playing professional football - I don’t think there’s going to be many players now, especially in this day and age, that get to that.

“On the pitch, his stats are right up there, his running stats and things like that.

“If you can’t learn off someone like that, I don’t think you’ll go very far.

“I learn from him on the pitch as well as off it. His football ability, the way he creates space for himself, his touches, his awareness - things that I see on the pitch but also things I like to analyse afterwards as well.”

READ MORE

The numbers facing Rovers in the busiest season in recent memory

Coppinger on what expectations should be for Rovers this season

Liam Hoden column: Look at potential recruitment through realism-tinted spectacles

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