Name them,Keegan, Venables, cClaren and the rest of them.All English managers that had at one time or the other handled the Three Lions ( England's national football team) but failed in bringing back thew old glory of the past.
England had suffered the absence of great managers for sometime now.And for a long time ,too, they have been really hurt by the poor or slightly above average performance of their national team in recent years.
Under a foreigner, Sven Goran Eriksson, they did try.They played in the European nations cup and qualified for world cup in Germany.His record is there for any one who is curious enough to check out the fact of history that is undisputable.
After the world cup failure, Sven Goran Eriksson was sacked.Today the man is doing wonders with the Manchester City FC which he has catapulted to a position they had failed to reach in the past five years compare to their city rivals.Man United.
McClaren, Eriksson's assistant,a son of the soil (in our local palance here) was brought in to carry on with the job a lead his country to the Euro 2008 finals.
The English FA decided on McClaren. in opposition to the general clamour for the Big Sam, Sam Alladyce, the then manager of Bolton Wanderers.
It was clear from the beginning that McClaren could not take the team any place near the Euro 2008 because of his style of management.He was not motivating enough.This was conspicuous in their last match which they needed to win but which they lost even at their backyard in Wembley Stadium.
Now, the English FA has decided to invite another foreigner to handle the team.Fabio Capello,the former winning Manager of Real Madrid of Spain who was unjustifiably laid off by the Directors of the Spanish side after he had won the league shield for them at the expense of Barcelona.
I want to agree with what the Manager of Portsmouth,Harry Redknapp said to the effect that what England needs is not a big-name manager,but someone who could motivate the team and draw up the right tactics for them to use.
England has some very talented and creative players who, under the right manager, play the best of effective and result-oriented football.
Let us hope that Capello would be the right man for the job as the FA had thought.
For now in England...
No more a son of the soil.
Sikirulai Olukayode Kazeem
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