Lucas Radebe will play as well as coach at Leeds United next season

The former Bafana Bafana captain recently signed a new one-year contract with Leeds despite their relegation from the English Premiership to the First Division.

As well as playing the 35-year old defender will now help to develop the next generation of first-team players at the club.

For Radebe, whose twilight seasons as a player have so far been blighted by serious knee injuries, a move into coaching is the obvious way to stay involved in the game.

Although not an official member of Leeds's backroom staff, Radebe cannot wait to start coaching.

If he can get across that wealth of knowledge he has then I have no doubts he will make a fantastic coach Kevin Blackwell, Leeds United manager

"I've already started with my coaching studies and next season I'll be studying for the badge," Radebe said.

"To get myself familiar with the job, I'll be involved in coaching at the academy."

Meanwhile new Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell told the club's website that Radebe had it in him to be a great coach.

"It was always envisaged that this season Lucas would get involved in training some of the juniors," Blackwell said.

"He's reached that stage of his career where he needs to look at making the next step.

"He's starting from the bottom and working his way up as a coach, which I believe is always the way it should be done."

Blackwell added: "Lucas has such a great, enthusiastic personality that makes him so popular with everybody on the training pitch.

"If he can get across that wealth of knowledge he has then I have no doubts he will make a fantastic coach and maybe one day a great manager.