When Sven-Goran Eriksson was named the first foreign coach of the English national football team in 2000, there was an outcry from English fans and football industry professionals alike. Eriksson, despite his lifetime commitment to the sport, was seen as an outsider, not truly English, undeserving of the title. However, he didn’t regret answering the FA’s call, despite the frustrations of quarter-final losses and public scrutiny of his personal life.
The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the new England coach is reflective of similar sentiments. There’s a palpable feeling that the Football Association should have moved past its era of overseas coaches. The notion was reinforced when St. George’s Park opened 12 years ago, featuring a plethora of homegrown, high-quality managers. Regrettably, the expectation for higher numbers of indigenous coaching talents remains unfulfilled.
Evidence of the England team’s underperformance in international football lies in the dismal statistics that no English manager has won a European trophy since 1997 or a league title since 1992. Curiously, the profile and demands of international football differ substantially from other formats. Appointing an overseas “winner with a capital W” does not guarantee success, as shown by underwhelming performances from successful boys such as Capello and Eriksson.
Criticism has been mounting on the FA to appoint a proven winner. Despite Southgate’s merits, he has often been viewed as the cause of England’s near-but-not-quite glory in major tournaments. Although his coaching skills prepared a group of underdogs for the 2018 World Cup, the changing profile of the squad may necessitate a different kind of coach, one experienced in handling high-profile talents and egos.
Tuchel’s appointment, given his past strained relationships at clubs such as Dortmund, Chelsea, and PSG, is far from the FA’s original vision of a ‘keep-your-head-down-and-do-the-right-thing’ kind of coach. Nevertheless, it might be needed for a team brimming with creative talents that Southgate struggled to manage tactically. However, the idea of having a foreigner at the helm still sparks nationwide debate, reflecting on fundamental principles of international sport itself- to pit one nation’s talent against others.
The decision to look beyond an indigenous candidate for England manager might discourage hopeful local coaches. The England job’s eligibility criteria now seem to involve winning the game’s most significant prizes, implying that any native manager who achieves such glory may put themselves out of reach of the FA, who might be unable to match the financial lures of larger clubs. As a result, the international game must change in a way that values more than just champions, recognizing that success in domestic leagues doesn’t automatically translate to international victories.
