With the lack of English players in the Premier League being the big bone of contention amongst pundits, very little attention is paid to the lack of English managers. Who are the leading English coaches in the Premier League? Sam Allardyce, Tony Pulis, Alan Pardew, Steve Bruce and before them, Hodgson and McLaren. 3 out of those 5 were infamous for the 'hoof' style of football that they play - not a style that will win any major trophies. The highest placed English performer this year was actually the young coach, Tim Sherwood, at Tottenham - who, despite being the most successful English manager out there, was sacked. So what does that say about the state of the English coaching system, when the most successful English manager in the league is sacked because his performance wasn't good enough?England need to start developing their young coaches; the Gary Nevilles and Jamie Carraghers need to start growing into their management careers, with the right approach to the game, now, rather than being drawn to the probably more lucrative world of post-game analysis. Unlike Spurs' approach with Sherwood, young coaches need to be given time; they need to be a key component in a long term project with a clear vision, in a similar way to the way Joachim Low's achievement with Germany was built.
I have been described as a sportsman with the brain of an athlete and the body of a scientist. Since it was established that playing wouldn't work out for me I have taken to writing.
