Sporting Thoughts
On Friday in a Hertfordshire hotel, England's new manager-elect, Sven Goran Eriksson made his introductions to the British press. He pledged himself whole-heartedly to the England cause: "It's a big job, a big challenge and I will be very proud the first time I go out and hear the national hymn . . . what do you say? . . . anthem."
There are still those angry at the appointment of a foreign coach, but given the influx of overseas managers into the Premiership in recent years, surely this was the next logical step. Considering his credentials, and the fact he has won every major title he has competed for, apart from the Champions League, including the Italian Championship and the UEFA Cup, the question is not why the FA wanted him, by why he wanted England?
Mr Eriksson's reputation comes, in contrast to his predecessor Kevin Keegan's, not from his playing days, but from his success as a manager. While Keegan bounced clumsily from one crisis to another, unable to decide on his first-choice strike force and too weak to pension off the over age players, Erikkson is noticably more experienced, mature and dignified. International management is meant for the elder statesmen of football, and the FA have found one of the most successful.
Unlike at Lazio, however, he will not have Cragnotti's millions to spend, and will have to make do with the raw materials available. Moreover, the effect any national coach can have on his players is limited, because he only deals with them for a few days every other month. This should, however, play to Eriksson's strengths - Keegan was a good club manager but at international level he found it far more difficult to transfer his enthusiasm.
A more valid criticism can be levelled against Eriksson's lack of knowledge of the English game - Bobby Robson, once said that while he might consider managing Spain, having coached Barcelona in the mid-1990s, he would find it very difficult taking charge of the German national team.
However, Eriksson's failure to name Sunderland's left back (Michael Gray) is not a serious objection to his taking the job. With Peter Taylor, Steve McClaren and Brian Kidd making up a team capable of guiding the new manager in the short term, and with Eriksson himself talking of staying anything up to seven years, the future of the national team is looking brighter than it has done for years.
Success will see the Swede become an honorary Englishman and even if results don't go his way, the FA will have patience with him considering the effort they went to get him in the first place. They understand now that stability and long-term planning are what is needed (look how France rebuilt themselves after failing to qualify for World Cup '94) and in Eriksson they have the man for the job.
MARK KOYAMA
9th Nov 2000