Conor Hourihane: Derby County captain on 'fairytale' promotion target and confronting fans
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'I'm a football obsessive' - Derby captain Hourihane
Captain Conor Hourihane is determined to complete the "fairytale" he signed up for at Derby County.
The former Republic of Ireland midfielder was the fourth player the Rams recruited in the days after the club was brought out of administration in the summer of 2022.
As a key member of Aston Villa's side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2019, and maestro of Barnsley's rise from League One in 2016, Hourihane was a lauded arrival for a club rebuilding after near ruin.
From the outset, the self proclaimed "football obsessive" saw Derby as a unique and "exciting" opportunity.
But for all the hope that surrounded a glorious revival at Pride Park, Hourihane was part of a hastily rebuilt side - pieced together within a month of the 2022-23 season starting - which ended up failing to even reach the play-offs.
"I heard a lot of stories about the bad times, and it sounded terrible for a club like this to get into that position," he told BBC Sport. "It's mind boggling really.
"Luckily the club came through it, and it's going from strength to strength now and hopefully the fairytale ending will be promotion this year."
With a quarter of the season remaining, Derby are in the second automatic promotion spot.
League One leaders Portsmouth, who have played a game more, are four points ahead of the second-placed Rams, while Bolton are one point adrift of Derby with two games in hand on the East Midlands club.
Having just turned 33, with only months left on his contract and a career in coaching already under way at Aston Villa's academy, Hourihane recognises what position he finds himself in as he moves towards the twilight of his career.
"I'd love to get promoted before finishing up, especially a promotion for a club that has been through such terrible times to now hopefully have amazing times," he said.
'Not that scared of retiring'
Conor Hourihane's most recent goal for Derby was their winner against near neighbours Burton Albion
Hourihane admits his foray into coaching and the apparent growing trend in opportunities being given to first-time managers in their 30s could see him retire earlier than he ever thought he would, though he insists he has no intentions of hanging up the boots this summer.
Eight of the Championship's 24 permanent managers are aged 40 or less.
"It's a road I'm going down for sure," Hourihane said.
"I think because of the coaching which has obsessed me, it may have brought the line forward a little bit.
"When I left Villa when I was 31, I was probably scared of retiring. I'm not that scared anymore.
"I definitely think there is a young crop of managers now who are coming through. Look at the Championship, obviously there is Liam Rosenior, Liam Manning, Russell Martin, and [Steven] Schumacher at Stoke and people like that.
"That does give you hope that that clubs are going that direction. And for me it's about being the best prepared I can be for when I finish."
Hourihane already has Rams boss Paul Warne leaning on him as a captain with a manager's mindset in the middle of the field.
"Speaking to the manager over the last couple of weeks, he feels like I'm the manger on the pitch in terms of instructions towards the lads, which I can see," he said.
"I try to be well rounded in terms of being good for the lads as a captain and then obviously thinking about the future as well and trying to gain knowledge from other people."
Confrontation with fans 'hasn't tarnished us'
Derby have only lost twice in the league since October
Still Derby's captain, who has missed only two league games through injury this season, scoring four goals and providing six assists for a side flying high, he has not always been embraced by fans.
And he does not hide from it.
Following a defeat at Shrewsbury in October, which left the Rams 11th in the table, he approached supporters in the stands and argued about the abuse aimed at the team.
Asked about how the incident unfolded ahead of Saturday's home game against the same side, Hourihane laughed as he replied: "How honest do you want me to be?
"It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I did it because I care.
"The kind of voice of the fans at the time was that we weren't playing well, and they have every right to do what they did. No problem whatsoever.
"But I probably didn't like it because it was aimed towards the group and myself, it tarnished the group a little bit.
"It gets the confidence low, the self belief low, and I just thought I'll go over and have a little word with them. And it was all good and all amicable.
"Whether it was the right thing or the wrong thing, and whatever people's opinions are, we have moved on to a good place from it.
"I'm not saying it's because of of that, but it hasn't tarnished us whatsoever - it hasn't done us any wrong."
For all the things Hourihane can reel off that fans may not like about him, he highlights how his greatest characteristic may yet be what endears him to them.
"I've been one of those guys over the years when at Plymouth, Barnsley and Villa that has probably been questioned a little in terms of maybe contributions or standing out, or maybe not being the most skilful of silkiest player on the team," he said.
"But I've just been solely focused on never doubting myself.
"It doesn't put me up or down. It is what it is, some people like you, some people don't and you just have to crack on with it.
"When you become captain you have to look after others, and be really headstrong that the team is okay.
"And once we are wining and the lads are happy in the dressing room, that's all that matters, and that is what shapes the team into a good place."