Fabrice Muamba has shed some light on his new role as an Academy coach at North West neighbours Burnley.

Muamba is looking to climb the coaching ladder and had a spell working with the Whites’ youngsters last season.

The 36-year-old, who racked up more than 100 appearances for Bolton before his career was tragically cut short, is keen to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of players.

“I stopped playing back in 2012,” Muamba told Versus. “I took a couple years out of the game and in that time, I did everything!

“I studied, I did media, I completed a degree, I did a lot. After a while, when I got to thinking, I concluded that coaching may be the next best thing to playing football. 

“I started here and there, and then I got the bug for it. I started taking my badges from different football clubs and then this opportunity presented itself. Now, I feel like I just need to give it my all.”

He added: “I played against Vinnie (Kompany). I know him as a player but also as a man, I know him as a father. The relationship we have is very different.

“Seeing him in this environment is super motivating - seeing that he did it and did it the right way. It makes you want to emulate what he has done - he carries himself in such a graceful manner.

“This is someone who achieved everything in the game. Seeing him assemble the team of people he works with, who I know from my time playing too, is very inspiring. Not only is it a team with different people, it is a supporting team of nice people.”

Muamba is eager to keep learning as a coach and believes that when it comes to developing young players, the most important thing is to make sure they are enjoying their time on the pitch.

“I never got much coaching growing up in Congo,” the former Bolton man recalled. “I just played in the streets - that was my entry point into football.

“When I did come to England, I was in the Academy around the age of 14, I was a late developer. Football was very different to me compared to the other 14-year-olds around me at that time.

“Back home in Congo, we played for fun. I kept that with me on my journey and it is something I want to pass on my players now.

“The most important thing you can do in football is have fun. If it is not fun, it becomes uninteresting.”

He continued: “I have been fortunate to learn and adapt by working with different players, the players at Manchester City or Liverpool are different from those at Bolton.

“Different environments come with different challenges but the principles are the same - how can I teach these young people to play ‘good’ football?”