The top 10 managers with pedigree to make lions roar again
-
No sooner had Steve McClaren been sacked than the bookies were offering odds against candidates new and old, far and wide, for the mission impossible of turning England into winners. But never mind the also-rans, who are the real contenders — and are they serious about the job?
Ulsterman Martin O'Neill ruled himself out last night but the FA can only hope the Aston Villa boss is simply playing hard to get. Italian Fabio Capello and even German Jurgen Klinsmann believe they have the credentials to lead England to World Cup glory in 2010.
Others have fan clubs, like Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and — much closer to home — Harry Redknapp, but as usual it's all about smoke and mirrors at this stage. Portsmouth boss Redknapp at least put his cards on the table, saying the FA should go for a homegrown appointment. But many feel they should ditch the 'British is best' philosophy which lumbered England with McClaren.
Given his disastrous reign — played 18, won nine, drew four, lost five — who wouldn't be an improvement, given that the team are at rock bottom along with the morale of the fans? What everyone really wants to avoid is another wally with a brolly...
The Brits
MARTIN O'NEILL
ODDS: 4-1
WHAT HE SAID ON MONDAY: 'I am committed to Aston Villa. cannot end speculation. I have had it for years and years. No matter what you say I have a big commitment to Villa.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Don't mess me around this time.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Should be saluted for building a Villa side around young English talent. FA must hope his refusal is a bluff.
STUART PEARCE
ODDS: 12-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I've got no reason to comment at this time.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Come on England!'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Star fell after sacking at Man City, but his work with the Under 21s has been impressive. Too soon to promote.
HARRY REDKNAPP
ODDS: 8-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'Who knows who they will appoint. Anyone would love to manage their country. No English manager could turn it down.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Oh, go on thenÂ…'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Gets the best out of his players but has never managed a top-level team. Knowledge of world football is in his favour.
ALAN SHEARER
ODDS: 8-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: The Newcastle legend — and his 'people' — refused to be drawn on the matter.
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Secretly, I quite fancy it.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Shearer is far better off in the TV studio, where he says practically nothing of any interest and still gets paid a fortune for it.
The Foreigners
JOSE MOURINHO
ODDS: 4-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: Dodging the question — 'This is sad. A championships without England is not the same as one with them.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Forget it. I'm the next manager of Real Madrid.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: 50 per cent of the country want him, but they all happen to be female. A sexy choice, it would be fun while it lasts as he tries to resist slagging off his bosses.
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI
ODDS: 10-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I am the manager of Portugal.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'If you can wait until after Euro 2008Â…'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Sorry, Phil, not after last time. Embarrassed and humiliated the FA by flirting with their top brass in Lisbon and then petulantly throwing a copy of the Daily Mail across an airport lounge because he had been rumbled. No chance.
GUUS HIDDINK
ODDS: 12-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I have a contract with the Russian Federation.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: '… And it's for £130,000 a week with a £15million break clause. Can you trump it?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Stock rises and falls faster than Northern Rock. One minute he's a tactical genius, the next he is exposed by Israel. Still, he led Holland and South Korea to World Cup semi-finals and guided Russia to Euro 2008. An outstanding candidate.
FABIO CAPELLO
ODDS: 3-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'The England job would be fantastic.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Anyone got Brian Barwick's number?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Has won eight league titles with four different clubs (Real Madrid, Milan, Juventus, Roma), plus a European Cup with Milan. Man-management skills in question — just ask Becks. Doesn't have 'friends' in the media. Perfect.
JURGEN KLINSMANN
ODDS: 25-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: No official comment.
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Ha, you want a German to save your nation?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Took Germany to third place in their own World Cup, but let's face it, apart from putting out Argentina on penalties, who did he beat? A real leap of faith to hand him the keys to Soho Square.
FRANK RIJKAARD
ODDS: 40-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: His agent, Brian Bergkleef — 'If Frank wanted it, 100 per cent he would do a brilliant job. He has all the qualities necessary.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'He's happy at Barcelona, thanks. And, anyway, he will be Chelsea manager next season.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Over-qualified for the job after leading Holland to semi-finals of Euro 2000 and winning European Cup with Barca. Worth an approach, but knock-back inevitable. -
no lippi???
-
martin O niell shouldnt have ruled himself out. I thought he stand a good chance. He's a good manager but he may still end up like a monkey in the end. (eriksson and mcclown all look like monkeys when they managed england)
-
He ruled himself out because he's not interested. Simple as that.Originally posted by HyuugaNeji:martin O niell shouldnt have ruled himself out. I thought he stand a good chance. He's a good manager but he may still end up like a monkey in the end. (eriksson and mcclown all look like monkeys when they managed england) -
cool... who knows one of them might be the next England manager
-
three lions can't even roar as loudly as our 1 lion.
-
Raddy Avramovic...he did make the lions roar..
-
wtf.Originally posted by kramnave:Raddy Avramovic...he did make the lions roar.. -
[quote]Originally posted by zocoss:
[b]No sooner had Steve McClaren been sacked than the bookies were offering odds against candidates new and old, far and wide, for the mission impossible of turning England into winners. But never mind the also-rans, who are the real contenders — and are they serious about the job?
Ulsterman Martin O'Neill ruled himself out last night but the FA can only hope the Aston Villa boss is simply playing hard to get. Italian Fabio Capello and even German Jurgen Klinsmann believe they have the credentials to lead England to World Cup glory in 2010.
Others have fan clubs, like Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and — much closer to home — Harry Redknapp, but as usual it's all about smoke and mirrors at this stage. Portsmouth boss Redknapp at least put his cards on the table, saying the FA should go for a homegrown appointment. But many feel they should ditch the 'British is best' philosophy which lumbered England with McClaren.
Given his disastrous reign — played 18, won nine, drew four, lost five — who wouldn't be an improvement, given that the team are at rock bottom along with the morale of the fans? What everyone really wants to avoid is another wally with a brolly...
The Brits
MARTIN O'NEILL
ODDS: 4-1
WHAT HE SAID ON MONDAY: 'I am committed to Aston Villa. cannot end speculation. I have had it for years and years. No matter what you say I have a big commitment to Villa.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Don't mess me around this time.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Should be saluted for building a Villa side around young English talent. FA must hope his refusal is a bluff.
STUART PEARCE
ODDS: 12-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I've got no reason to comment at this time.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Come on England!'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Star fell after sacking at Man City, but his work with the Under 21s has been impressive. Too soon to promote.
HARRY REDKNAPP
ODDS: 8-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'Who knows who they will appoint. Anyone would love to manage their country. No English manager could turn it down.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Oh, go on thenÂ…'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Gets the best out of his players but has never managed a top-level team. Knowledge of world football is in his favour.
ALAN SHEARER
ODDS: 8-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: The Newcastle legend — and his 'people' — refused to be drawn on the matter.
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Secretly, I quite fancy it.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Shearer is far better off in the TV studio, where he says practically nothing of any interest and still gets paid a fortune for it.
The Foreigners
JOSE MOURINHO
ODDS: 4-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: Dodging the question — 'This is sad. A championships without England is not the same as one with them.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Forget it. I'm the next manager of Real Madrid.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: 50 per cent of the country want him, but they all happen to be female. A sexy choice, it would be fun while it lasts as he tries to resist slagging off his bosses.
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI
ODDS: 10-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I am the manager of Portugal.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'If you can wait until after Euro 2008Â…'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Sorry, Phil, not after last time. Embarrassed and humiliated the FA by flirting with their top brass in Lisbon and then petulantly throwing a copy of the Daily Mail across an airport lounge because he had been rumbled. No chance.
GUUS HIDDINK
ODDS: 12-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I have a contract with the Russian Federation.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: '… And it's for £130,000 a week with a £15million break clause. Can you trump it?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Stock rises and falls faster than Northern Rock. One minute he's a tactical genius, the next he is exposed by Israel. Still, he led Holland and South Korea to World Cup semi-finals and guided Russia to Euro 2008. An outstanding candidate.
FABIO CAPELLO
ODDS: 3-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'The England job would be fantastic.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Anyone got Brian Barwick's number?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Has won eight league titles with four different clubs (Real Madrid, Milan, Juventus, Roma), plus a European Cup with Milan. Man-management skills in question — just ask Becks. Doesn't have 'friends' in the media. Perfect.
JURGEN KLINSMANN
ODDS: 25-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: No official comment.
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Ha, you want a German to save your nation?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Took Germany to third place in their own World Cup, but let's face it, apart from putting out Argentina on penalties, who did he beat? A real leap of faith to hand him the keys to Soho Square.
FRANK RIJKAARD
ODDS: 40-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: His agent, Brian Bergkleef — 'If Frank wanted it, 100 per cent he would do a brilliant job. He has all the qualities necessary.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'He's happy at Barcelona, thanks. And, anyway, he will be Chelsea manager next season.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Over-qualified for the job after leading Holland to semi-finals of Euro 2000 and winning European Cup with Barca. Worth an approach, but knock-back inevitable.
i start with shearer? wtf? he got license or not? he also noobie like roy keane, i think raddy do a better job than him la.
o'neill. okay good candidate got exp with celtic
pearce. currently with u21, maybe later, as he is doing well with the kids, better not disturb, scarlie u21 also die
redknapp. best Englishmen available, but like mcclaren, he has only tried to save pompy from relegation only.
mourinho. he say he cannot manage england cuz if they portugal he will AWOL. but if they pay him $$$ loads, y not, but i foresee him as a manager best succeeded at club, like week in week out got action on pitch, not once a month qualifiers.
scolari. IMHO, he is my pick to take over, england will turn into brazilian style, more attacking, u see portugal, more of a strong midfield team, eg ronaldo, deco, maniche, nani, so he can surely make good use of england, strong in mid.
hiddink. good and can take a lousy team like korea and aus. but imagine eng was russia, and they lost to isreal, when they got a chance to qualify, sure the media whack him like KNNBCCB. but have to wait for euro to end
capello. even more boring italian style into the lions, but sure got success lor. u can tahan the boring style then hire.
klinsmann. solid guy. but i think he needs an interpretator, as he cnt speak eng?
rijkaard. i am not sure if he is leaving barca(at least until the season ends), but he is also not that type suited for the england, where he has skillful players at his disposal.
1)luiz felipe scolari
2)marco van basten(young manager BUT proven, and must wait for euro to end, i include him as he is the best young manager ard)
3) dider deschamps( he went to CHAMPS league final with monaco leh, not uefa cup)(s'more now unemployed)
4) jurgen klinsmann.
5)martin o'neill ( best brit, if the FA is considering one)
IMO i dun care much about the nationality -
No, don't let him go.Originally posted by kramnave:Raddy Avramovic...he did make the lions roar.. -
Let's Get Grant -
MARTIN JOL!!!!
-
ok latest o'neill say he dun wan jwob
so now i take pearce as my 5 choice( i never considered him b4, until he did well wif u21) -
Screwed England lar. Why support their National team when our own National Team needs our support.
-
go for benitez. he is a proven cup manager.
-
Amen.Originally posted by chillz88:Screwed England lar. Why support their National team when our own National Team needs our support. 
-
cuz we watch epl opps BPL so naturally we support england, but i never supported england.
if singapore enters WC2010, i'll buy all the tix to their games in SA, even if they get to the finals. -
ya.. a big IF right?Originally posted by spike_jose:cuz we watch epl opps BPL so naturally we support england, but i never supported england.
if singapore enters WC2010, i'll buy all the tix to their games in SA, even if they get to the finals. -
my favourite isn't even on the list.... the big man himself, Sam Allardyce. lets face it he moved to newcastle to get himself into the big league (big mistake... since when have newcastle been good?) if they offer it he'll take it and he's definately good enough.
that said wouldn't mind mr redknapp to take the job out of those guys personally. -
oh fug, scolari says he wants to see out his portugal contract, which is until end of euros.
-
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Shearer not ready yet
Shearer was undoubtedly a top marksman for both club and country. However, goals alone cannot automatically transform Shearer into a successful manager overnight. Sir Bobby Charlton, England's all-time top goalscorer, had a wretched spell with Preston North End and Wigan Athletic after he swapped his boots for the managerial tracksuit in the 1970s. The English FA should resist calling up Shearer because he has an unproven track record at club level.
Rather, the English FA would do well to employ Harry Redknapp. He has over 20 years of managerial experience during which he turned his teams' fortunes immediately. This is crucial especially for the unforgiving, fickle and impatient English supporters and media. Also, he has devised a pleasant, effective playing style with Pompey despite fielding players from diverse countries like Senegal, Croatia, Portugal and England. Thus, he make English players from various clubs play as a cohesive unit. Not only is he capable of handling temperamental players like Paolo DiCanio, he has also nurtured current England internationals like Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand who would be delighted to play for their mentor again.
Fathie Abdat, 26, researcher-student, Manchester United fan
em Harry redknapp
OMG, didnt we learn enuff from McClown mistake
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/sports/story/0,4136,148673,00.html?
if stupidity has a cure... -
shearer? y not try alex mcleish, the scotland coach?
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11979_2896288,00.html
sky sports my reliable football site. -
it has nothing to do with the manager appointed.
frankly the current crop of players just arent classy enough. -
I feel that the players are good. It's just that the manager just cannot gel them together and get the best out of them. It is a challenging job to bond the players and play as a team, given the few international matches, resulting in much lesser time as a team. The previous managers just cannot overcome this constrain.Originally posted by dragg:it has nothing to do with the manager appointed.
frankly the current crop of players just arent classy enough. -
actually steve mcclaren can, but he think to much when his defence was in pieces (not ferdy, terry, cole) he should not play carson. they have the a strong mid is only how to play them together.
see mcclaren got barry, swp right but not the strikers or keepers