Scolari's (Probable) Appointment Not Popular With British Coaches

Filed in archive England on April 27, 2006

source: worldcupblog.org

News that Big Phil Scolari has been offered the England job (and will probably accept) has not gone down well with British coaches. Howard Wilkinson, chairman of the League Managers Association said ""I think it would be a popular decision, but I don't think in the long term it's a good decision for what's best for England and English football. I think in the long term it sends out the wrong message from the Football Association to English coaches and the ramifications will be seen in the years ahead." His comments were echoed by the likes of Mark Hughes, Gary Lineker, David Gold, Alan Mullery and Harry Redknapp.

Redknapp hit the nail on the head when he said "We have plenty of good young managers in this country. We have a two-year system here where you get your coaching badges but it doesn't seem you get the top job. Maybe it would help if you could get Champions League experience, but you only get Champions League experience if you are the manager of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool." It's true that if Curbishly, Allardyce or McLaren had managed a top club then they would have got the job. The responsibility doesn't just lie with the FA, it also lies with the top clubs to give English managers a chance.