After Capello fled in a blaze of fury who will be the man to step into his extravagantly priced Italian loafers? The 65 year old was a popular choice back in 2008 in the wake of Steve McClaren’s reign of terror which saw the National team fail to qualify for a major tournament for the first time since 1994. The Italian then set about proving his credentials as a tactician in his debut game, a 2-1 victory over Switzerland at Wembley. In 2008, as is the case each time the vacancy opens up, the same names were banded about and the same questions arose. Thankfully the days when the likes of Alan Curbishley and John Gregory were touted for the post are long gone, yet some names have remained stalwarts in the selection process; Harry Redknapp and Martin O’Neill to name just two.
‘He has to be English’, is a pre-requisite that has fallen on deaf ears in the past, in light of the appointments of Sven Goran-Eriksson and more recently Fabio Capello. Sandwiched in between them was the ‘Wally with the brolly’ who was offered the job - post Sven – only to squander, painfully, the opportunity to move out of his mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson’s, shadow. There was little anger after that night at Wembley, on which Croatia out-battled and out-played us in the pouring rain, as there was in South Africa after Capello and co capitulated against the Germans. Instead there was a great sense of pity as we watched McClaren looking on helplessly at the demise of his side. Will the catastrophe of his appointment sway the FA to look overseas once again this time around?
The overwhelming favourite is of course Harry Redknapp, he is a national treasure, fresh from acquittal for tax evasion and if any Englishman has earned the right to manage his country then ‘Arry is that man. His Tottenham side play an exciting brand of football that has seen him win many admirers in his White Hart Lane tenure; utilising old fashioned style wing play, his strategy is both a blast from the past and a view to the future as more recent, tried and tested styles from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea appear be losing their cutting edge. Would a man as proud as Redknapp want to risk tarnishing his reputation in the hot seat which has seen countless predecessors melt under the pressure?
If Harry were to take the job he would be leaving a side, who next year will not only be aiming to qualify for the Champions League but also for the title, for a mediocre national team whose 5th place in the FIFA ranking belies their ability and recent results. The nation as a whole is disillusioned with their national team, once a source of great pride, the majority now take to the field not because they want to, but because they feel that they have to. The Three Lions is no longer worn with valour but displayed as a symbol of failure and disappointment. Despite ringing endorsements from fellow Premier League Managers, Sir Alex Ferguson and Martin O’Neill highlighting the Tottenham boss as the ideal candidate for the job, I feel that it would be foolish to leave what he has built in North London for International Management. However, Redknapp himself has admitted that he views the England Managers job as the pinnacle of the game. Who knows, Harry could well be the man to reinvent and enthuse the current crop of beleaguered players but in my eyes there is really only one man for the job…
Jose Mourinho is the only man who could fulfil the over-inflated expectations of England fans who for years have bemoaned the failures of the national representatives of the game they so love. He would bring what he has brought to every side that he has managed; arrogance, ruthlessness and a togetherness that breeds success. Whilst he has no international experience he has an advantage over Redknapp - if the FA choose to view his CV - in that he has managed in four different countries, succeeding in each whereas Harry’s managerial career has been limited to England. Who can honestly say they wouldn’t want the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ in charge of their nation?
In reality whoever choses to take up the mantle and pick up where Mr Capello left off is a brave man, who in their right mind would board the Titanic with full knowledge of the outcome? What is required is not necessarily patriotism, as Stuart Pearce will undoubtedly bring as Caretaker boss, but a sense of pride and simply, a will to win at all costs. The poison chalice was supped dry by Fabio Capello, it has now been refilled and lies in wait for the next candidate.
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