Following Fabio Capello’s resignation last evening and the stripping of John Terry’s captaincy our national side is currently rudderless with a major championship right up ahead. Daniel Radley looks at an astonshing set of circumstances.
Last night the Football Association confirmed that England manager Fabio Capello has resigned from his role with the national team. In recent days media sources speculated that Capello may not take too kindly to FA chairman David Bernstein taking the captaincy off John Terry, without consulting with the manager himself. Are England in crisis with no captain or manager just months before the European Championship begins?
Public criticism
Capello publicly criticized the FA’s decision to take the captaincy from Terry and this decision clearly was the final straw with the Italian. One thing that this must not do is overshadow what has been an excellent management legacy by Capello over many years. However it could be argued that in the international management arena the former Real Madrid, Juventus, Milan and Roma boss struggled. Over the World Cup, players involved have since mentioned how it was difficult to enjoy the World Cup campaign and Capello may rue not taking a more laid back approach with the players with the campaign potentially taking up to four weeks. Capello had already stated that Euro 2012 will be his last involvement as England manager but recent events have made it impossible for him to continue.
The Terry Case
The media circus involving the John Terry court case has been across the back papers of newspapers and one of the biggest sporting stories across all sports media in recent weeks. Essentially being England captain comes with a responsibility on and off the field of play. There is no questioning that John Terry was a born leader and has contributed towards major success for Chelsea and has never been accused of hiding in the big games for club or country. However with the allegations currently being held against Terry it would be difficult for him to lead England into a major international competition. Controversy seems to follow England players wherever they go and they only have themselves to blame. In recent years Ashley Cole, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch have all been in the media for the wrong reasons. England now have the task of naming a new captain and a new manager just months before the Euro 2012 competition begins.
Redknapp is an outstanding manager who has turned Tottenham from relegation candidates to title contenders in three years.
Who Next?
So who next for England? Time and time again we have been here before. From Keegan to Sven, McClaren to Capello. The nation always feels the blind optimism of a World Cup or European Championship campaign and two weeks later speculate about big players not performing and the same old dreaded penalty shootout defeat. There is no denying if the game was played on paper Spain would win every game, every competition. Although even the best teams can be beat and there are always shock results around the corner as England proved in the recent friendly victory over the Spanish. How can England get themselves closer to the likes of Spain, Germany and Holland? So to the contenders…
The Favourite
The shortest odds with bookmakers, unsurprisingly is for Harry Redknapp to take charge. Redknapp is an outstanding manager who has turned Tottenham from relegation candidates to title contenders in three years. A mix of decades of experience in management and man management skills could make Redknapp a success with England. Unquestionably he has the knowledge of the English game and the skills to get the best out of his players and the international scene will not be too challenging for him. The FA have already categorically stated previously that the next England manager will be English, so rumours about Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink being a potential candidate can immediately be brushed aside. Apart from the obvious choice Redknapp, the remaining realistic choices are Stuart Pearce and Roy Hodgson.
The Outsiders
Stuart Pearce unquestionably knows the players from working in the English game as club manager, assistant national team manager and England under 21 managers. No language barriers, a clear motivator with ambition and experience of being in the players boots before as a player himself. On the other hand Pearce does not have the management experience so unfortunately despite all Pearce’s passion to the cause of bringing success to the England national team I believe he will fall short this time round. Secondly Roy Hodgson has managed club football across many different countries and has been successful with mid table clubs. Unfortunately Hodgson’s experience with Liverpool may have pushed him down the pecking order in selection to be the next England national team manager.
