English Managers in Premier League
Football Coaches Born in England Working with Top Premiership Clubs
Dec 16, 2007
Following the appointment of the Italian Fabio Capello as the next England coach, the question has been asked, ‘Where are all the English managers?’
England - 1966 World Cup Winners
In 1966 when England won the World Cup, every club in the top flight of English football had a manager who was born within the British Isles, with the vast majority of the twenty two managers being English and available to manage the national team.
However, today only half of the Premier League clubs have English born managers –there are nine top flight managers from England.
When the Football Association sought a manager to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup Finals in 2006, a number of English born managers were short-listed but this time, having dispensed with Steve McLaren, there were fewer English options considered.
Nine English Managers:
- Harry Redknapp who has vast experience of managing in England with West Ham United and Portsmouth could have been considered. However, the untimely intervention of the police in their inquiry into alleged corruption in football and Redknapp’s arrest, rather scuppered his chances of landing the top position in English football.
- Sam Allardyce was interviewed when Eriksson was replaced but having moved to Newcastle United last summer he has been under pressure to bring results there and his earlier involvement in the football enquiry into ‘bungs’ and illegal approaches would have made the FA wary of appointing him.
- Alan Curbishley was also in contention last time and has also changed clubs. He left Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2006 after fifteen years in charge. However, he was soon returned to football with West Ham United and miraculously they avoided relegation.
- Gareth Southgate who stepped into Steve McLaren’s shoes at Middlesbrough has struggled to make an impression although a week ago his team brought about Arsenal’s first League defeat of the season.
- Laurie Sanchez, was born in London but played for Northern Ireland and managed them until being offered his first Premier League manager’s role with Fulham. It was his success in lifting Northern Ireland in the world rankings along with home victories over England and Spain that brought Sanchez to prominence. Having been sacked by Fulham, Roy Hodgson has replaced him at Craven Cottage.
- Steve Bruce managed Birmingham City for six years as they yo-yoed between the top two divisions. Having gained promotion last season Bruce moved on to Wigan Athletic last month attempting to save them from relegation.
- Paul Jewell has worked successfully with lower division teams and Wigan Athletic impressed in the top flight after their promotion three seasons ago. However, it was difficult to maintain that impetus and relegation was only avoided on the last day of last season. Jewell then resigned to take a break from football and has recently taken charge at Derby County who are facing a quick return to the Championship.
- Steve Coppell has done an exceptional job at Reading, who made an immediate impression in their first ever season in the top flight of English football, only just missing out on qualification for European football.
- Bolton Wanderers lost Sam Allardyce last season but resisted the temptation of looking for a foreign manager. Initially, they appointed Sammy Lee who had been Allardyce’s assistant and also an England coach but when that failed to bring the required results they turned to Gary Megson, a manager with vast experience of English football.
'Young' Pretenders
Great things were expected of Peter Taylor and Stuart Pearce. Both have been very successful with the England Under-21 side but less successful in club management. Recently, Taylor lost his post at Crystal Palace and has moved to non-League football with Stevenage Borough while Pearce was sacked by Manchester City last summer.
With the best of English managers lacking any great experience or success, the Football Association had to look further afield when appointing the England manager.
