By PA Sports
Last updated May 5 2006
The FA have made their decision - at last - and now we know that the future of English football is in Steve McClaren's hands.But have the FA made the right decision? Are there managers out there better qualified than the Middlesbrough coach to get the best out of the squad of millionaires who wear the three lions on their shirts?
Well to start with the FA didn't think so. Whatever Brian Barwick says, it seems they wanted Luiz Felipe Scolari to take over after the World Cup…and with good reason. 'Big Phil' did the business in Brazilian club football, leading both Palmeiras and Gremio to Copa Libertadoes triumphs - South America's Champions League equivalent. He then salvaged Brazil's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign, when they looked in danger of missing out despite the presence of stars such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo and a young Ronaldinho.
He then led the famed 'selecao' to glory in the Far East. Guided Portugal to the Euro 2004 final, where Greece spoiled the hosts' party and has since coaxed Figo and co through qualifying to this summer's World Cup. It's little wonder that the FA wanted 'Big Phil'. And the truth is that McClaren's limited club success, on a decent budget thanks to Boro's generous millionaire chairman Steve Gibson, pales into comparison against Scolari's cv.
But, as we all now know, the Brazilian has rejected the FA overtures so McClaren gets the gig, despite his limited international experience as number two to Sven Goran Eriksson, coaching England's stars. It seems the clamour for an English coach has played into McClaren's hands, but which other home-grown coaches has he beaten to the punch?
Alan Curbishley performed wonders on a shoestring before quitting Charlton. But does that qualify him to coach the best players in the country at the highest level? Curbishley has no international experience at all.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has had more success than Curbishley at a similar level club, experienced UEFA Cup football this season and is well know for using the most advanced coaching ideas of our times. He is also famed for getting the best out of players, and was probably the nearest to Scolari on the domestic front. But McClaren edges Sam with his international experience, which probably made the difference in the end.
Martin O'Neill has had consistent success at both Leicester City and Celtic but is currently out of the game due to his wife's ill-health. He probably wasn't a serious consideration and has little experience of international football, as a coach at least. Of the others Stuart Pearce and Steve Bruce were mentioned. Briefly.
So on the basis of looking for an English/British coach McClaren probably had the edge. Indeed, even with Scolari out of the picture, the main competition must have come from abroad. Other than 'Big Phil' the main overseas rival would have been legendary Dutchman Gus Hiddink. After an impressive domestic career, including European Cup success with PSV Eindhoven and successful spells in Spain, he took Holland to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1998, only losing to Brazil on penalties, and then performed miracles taking South Korea to the semi-finals in 2002.
Back in club football recently he helped PSV to compete at the highest levels despite the changing financial situation in the game and the Dutch club's relative poverty. Then he coached Australia through a tricky play-off against Uruguay and to their first World Cup for 32 years. Impressive? Not half, but Hiddink sulked when asked to be interviewed and promptly took the Russia job at £8million-a-year. Cue McClaren, again.
Perhaps the FA could have given the England job to a German boss instead? If ANY nationality would be considered, both Felix Magath and the currently unemployed Ottmar Hitzfeld would have to be serious contenders. They have both enjoyed brilliant club careers at the highest level.
Elsewhere.. frankly the cupboard is a little bare. Marcello Lippi's credibility rests on Italy's performance in Germany and Raymond Domenech either succeeds with France and stays, or flops and disappears. Managers like Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafael Benitez and Frank Rijjkaard are staying in club football for now.There is another manager with international experience still available however. How about Bertie Vogts?
McClaren it is then.
