Matt Grimes on maturing as a leader: Why he no longer screams at his teammates

  • August 29, 2026

As the fresh season kicks off, Matt Grimes stands as a key leader on the field for Coventry City, having provided crucial experience during their triumphant promotion run last term.

The 30-year-old midfielder made his move to the Sky Blues in January 2025, wrapping up a ten-year spell with Swansea City where he gathered valuable lessons in captaincy and guidance.

With Grimes now gearing up to prove critics wrong and orchestrate a successful campaign to remain in the Premier League, he has contemplated the way his approach to leading has developed over time.

Grimes explains why raising his voice isn’t always necessary

Coventry City's midfielder Matt Grimes serves as the primary playmaker for Frank Lampard on the pitch

In January 2025, Grimes completed his transfer to Coventry (Image credit: Getty Images)

Though certain captains favor a high-intensity, aggressive style, dominating the locker room with loud speeches and dramatic gestures, Grimes feels his journey has shown him that such tactics are outdated.

“If we perform poorly and I start yelling and screaming during the interval, the team won’t take me seriously because they recognize that doesn’t reflect my true character,” he revealed to FourFourTwo.

Players from Coventry City celebrate their return to top-flight football

For the first time since 2001, Coventry have returned to the highest tier (Image credit: Getty Images)

This represents a major shift from his younger years, as he now understands that being genuine is critical to earning the respect of his teammates.

“I believe the era of needing to yell and be the most vocal presence is in the past,” he adds, highlighting how leadership in contemporary football has transitioned away from whoever makes the most noise.

Having made over 500 professional appearances, Grimes communicates with steady authority and reliability, demonstrating that leading by example serves as a much stronger motivator for the squad.

This calm and composed attitude is exactly what will prove crucial for the team in the coming months.

Entering their initial top-flight season since 2001, Coventry are widely tipped by bookmakers to face immediate relegation, yet Grimes is confident that the experiences gained last term will help them adapt.

COVENTRY, ENGLAND - APRIL 21: Coventry City's Haji Wright rejoices after netting the opening goal in the Sky Bet Championship clash against Portsmouth at The Coventry Building Society Arena on April 21, 2026 in Coventry, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Last year, the Sky Blues clinched the Championship title with an 11-point margin (Image credit: Getty Images)

“We had a strong start, went through a rough patch in the middle, but managed to bounce back and secure victories,” he recalls, reflecting on a campaign where Frank Lampard’s squad ultimately finished 11 points ahead of their rivals.

“We secured victories in eight of our final nine fixtures to lock down the championship. Run-ins of that quality are incredibly rare.

“The achievement will hit home at some point, but right now, I still can’t quite believe it,”