STEPHEN Purches says he is in a “privileged position” at Cherries and admits it is “very difficult” to plan his career path.

The Cherries first-team coach last month earned the UEFA Pro Licence, the highest qualification in football management.

The award is mandatory of those who wish to take a permanent management role in the Premier League, or in the top tier of any European country.

In an interview with the Daily Echo in November 2016, Cherries boss Eddie Howe said “I definitely see a future manager with Purchy” but admitted that would be “dictated by what he wants”.

Asked if he saw himself as a manager in the coming years, Purches said it was tough to look ahead and revealed the enjoyment he took from working at the Dorset club.

He told the Daily Echo: “It’s very difficult to plan that. If you had asked me five years ago if I saw myself being in this position, I would not have known.

“Each time something comes up in your career, it can take you in different ways. It’s about making sure you are as prepared as you can be for the future but also that you make use of every day you have.

“I’m in a great place. I’m learning off great people and I’m completely loving the job I’ve got.

“It’s about making sure I pick up everything I can in the privileged position I am in. I will always strive to get better at what I’m doing.

“Each game is like a cup final and it gets treated that way by all the staff to make sure we are as prepared as much as we can be.

“Courses help to a point but there is nothing better than being at the sharp end of the job. That is when you learn the most.”

Among Purches’s fellow graduates were ex-Manchester United stars Nemanja Vidic and Nicky Butt and former Liverpool, Portsmouth and Cherries goalkeeper David James.

The likes of Nigel Clough, Graham Potter, James Beattie and Jason Euell also gained their qualifications.

Purches, who was promoted to first-team coach in February last year, said: “I think the best thing about the course is that you are interacting with a good group of coaches who all have different experiences.

“You gain respect for each other and end up trusting each other’s opinions.

“You are there to earn the qualification but some of the best learning is when you are all sitting down and talking about your experiences.

“The course opens your eyes to other aspects of leadership, whether that’s in football or other sports.

“We went to Poland to watch the European Under-21 Championship last summer and went into different sporting environments as well – such as judo and rugby – to experience different kinds of coaching.

“When we were in Poland, we watched not only the England games but other teams as well and it was interesting to see the formations and tactics and what teams’ cultures were.”