City right-back reveals desire to prove his tough-loving father wrong is what eventually drove him to become an elite player
: Getty Images/Marc Atkins
Kyle Walker has revealed his father used to make him cry after every match as a child but credits his tough love for making him an elite player.
The Manchester City right-back has become one of England’s most decorated players after winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four EFL cups and a Champions League.
Walker, 34, has launched his own podcast “You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker”, and used the opening episode to detail the effect his father Michael had on his career from a young age.
“I used to hate going to football with him,” said Walker. “No matter if I played good or I played bad, I’d get in the car and I’d be reduced to tears. He’d say I wouldn’t have done this right, I wouldn’t have done that right.
“He didn’t do it because he wanted to hurt me. He did it because he cared.”
The former Tottenham defender also explained that it was this tough love that saw him set out to constantly “prove his dad wrong” which consequently made him a better “player and person”.
: AP Photo/Dave Thompson
However, despite playing Champions League football and at major tournaments for England Walker said he did not win over his father’s approval as a professional until the success came when moving to Manchester City.
Join the conversation
More stories
More from Football
More from The Telegraph
More from betting
Free bets
Bet of the day
Premier League odds
Euro 2024 odds
Football tips and offers
Best betting sites © Telegraph Media Group Limited 2024
