'I lived for matchdays as a player and do as a coach'

Elphick was at a crossroads when he joined the Cherries from hometown club Brighton ahead of the start of the 2012/13 season.

A ruptured Achilles in May 2011 robbed him of 15 months of his playing career, the defender opting to sever ties with the Seagulls and seek pastures new.

Two promotions later, Elphick’s decision was fully vindicated when he was crowned supporters’ player of the year after captaining the club to the Premier League for the first time in its history.

Leading the Cherries in their first top-flight encounter against Aston Villa in August 2015 and starring as they secured their Premier League status at Villa Park eight months later, Elphick was on cloud nine.

His successful stay as a player at Vitality Stadium ended when Elphick joined the Villans in July 2016, the Midlands club having finished stone last in the Premier League, amassing just 17 points from 38 games.

Elphick experienced differing fortunes working under three managers in as many years at Villa, his time at the club culminating in them regaining their top-flight status, via the play-offs, in 2018/19.

On Saturday, Elphick will return to Villa Park for the first time, the 35-year-old having joined the Cherries coaching staff in September 2021 before being promoted to the first-team ranks under Gary O’Neil.

Discussing the transition from playing to coaching, Elphick told afcb.co.uk: “I found it quite easy to be honest.

“I spent much of the final two years of my career at Huddersfield on a physio bed so had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to do.

“The staff at Huddersfield were great with me and they let me look at lots of things while I was injured.

“I spent time with the analysis boys, days out watching training and games, days with the manager and time with head of football operations Leigh Bromby.

“I always wanted to be involved in the day-to-day running of a football club and remain active on the grass. That’s where I see my strengths and qualities.

“After I left Bournemouth, I always kept in touch with people. When I sustained my career-ending injury, Neill Blake and Richard Hughes sounded me out about doing something when I stopped playing.

“I’ll always be in debt and grateful to them for giving me the opportunity and seeing something in me that they wanted to develop. Hopefully, with the work that we’re all doing, it will all be repaid in the future.”

Elphick initially worked alongside Shaun Cooper with the club’s development squad before the pair were both elevated to the first team when O’Neil became interim head coach and then got the role permanently.

“When I first came into coaching, I was fortunate to be working with Shaun Cooper, someone I’m still working closely with now and someone I’ve learned so much from,” said Elphick.

“You get a chance to experiment, try things and coach. There are a lot of moving parts in the development squad and you have to think on your feet and adapt sessions. It’s different and was a great way to cut my teeth.

“I loved hands-on coaching but missed the first-team action and the itch of matchday involvement. We had the Premier League Cup but a lot of the games are friendlies and there isn’t the same structure of plotting a season week by week and month by month in the Premier League.

“I’m really thankful to the gaffer for trusting me and Coops to be alongside him and working with him has opened my eyes to so much – tactically, man-management and the way he organises the group.

“He’s a top, top manager and I’m really excited to see where all of this goes. Things have been really good recently, performances are getting really good and the group are getting stronger every week.

“It’s going in the direction we need to be going in. I lived for matchdays as a player and do as a coach. Seeing a week’s work come to fruition is something I love.

“The gaffer is very hands-on and likes to do a lot himself which reminds me of previous managers we’ve had.

“We support him in any way we can. Organically, we’ve all found our little niches and roles that we bring to the lads.

“I’m learning so much from him every day, as I am from Tim Jenkins who has come in with fresh eyes from Liverpool and brought some great ideas.

“Having the continuity of working with Coops has made me feel at ease with the processes and how we’re working and the support staff have been brilliant with me as well.

“It’s a really nice environment to come into every day and it’s a huge team effort. I’m just really grateful to the gaffer for giving me the opportunity to be alongside him.”

Elphick was asked to summarise his time working alongside O’Neil and Cooper and where he hoped to see the club in the future.

He said: “From our perspective, you don’t really stop and reflect too much. We always analyse performances and it quickly becomes about the next game so it’s hard to stop and sum up what’s gone on in past six or seven months.

“There’s a really good feel about the group and the dynamic is in a really good place. The lads we signed in January have brought so much quality and personality which has added to what we already had.

“To say it’s an absolute privilege to be part of a team which is coaching this group is an understatement.

“They are so willing and so honest and always give 100 per cent. It’s a huge compliment to everyone who has assembled this squad and no more so than the lads themselves because they are a joy to work with.

“We all know what the end goal is but there is so much excitement around this squad with the ages and profiles. Hopefully, this group is going to be together for many years.

“Regarding the longer-term future, it’s hard when you’re on this side of it because you just take things day by day, period by period. You have to focus on the here and now.

“We’ve all got a job to do to keep this club in the Premier League this season. We’re very clear on the narrative and where we need to be. It’s an exciting period for the club.

“Where we’ll be in five years, there’s a perfect goal. Hopefully, we’re all together, flying in the Premier League and improving the group.”

Discussing his three years with Villa, Elphick said: “It’s a club I absolutely adore and I loved my time there.

“It was different for me as a player. I went there with big hopes and aspirations and it was a bit of a fallen giant at the time.

“We were looking to restore some pride and get the club back where it should be in the Premier League.

“It’s an unbelievable football club and it shocked me just how big the fan-base was worldwide. I learned bundles, met some great people and played with some great players.

“It was lovely to see the transition from when I arrived to when I left. It took a little longer than I had anticipated but it was rewarding to help get the club back in the Premier League.”