The Sports
Psychology Blog
Today's Sports Psychology blog comes as Jose Mourinho, Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello are made favourites to become the next manager of England.
Football: England - A New Leader
So the three leading contenders for the England job are Italian and Portugese. Whilst there is no doubting the enormous capability the three managers have, there is something not quite right about the absence of an Englishman amongst them.
Clearly the FA are looking for experience. A manager with a proven track-record. Rock solid credentials. Steeped in experience and know-how. Which is understandable. But will any of these men break the stop situation? The stop situation which has prevented talented England teams delivering on the world stage. A stop situation, which the English national team overcame at rugby and cricket. But not football.
Mourinho has the insight into English football and having broken the stop situation at Chelsea, knows the code. But, the best man to break the stop situation in English football, must be an Englishman. This is an English mission.
In the same way that Jurgen Klinsmann led the German national team so brilliantly at the 2006 World Cup, the next English manager must understand the national psyche and unmet needs of the nation. And have a vision and strategy to overcome the debilitating self sabotage habit.
The FA should be consulting Sir Clive Woodward to understand more of the calibre of mentality necessary for an English team to breakthrough onto the world stage. This insight should inform their thinking.
And like Burnley have done in the inspirational appointment of Owen Coyle, the FA should look beyond the obvious contenders. For example, they should invite applications from visionary managers and coaches, throughout the game, for a master plan to liberate English football. A ten year plan that impacts on football at all levels.
Who knows who is carrying the essence of change? Who has that calibre of thinking? That individual could occupy a Woodward-like role of head-strategist, with top calibre coaches at their disposal to work with the team. Right now, fresh, imaginative thinking is required by the FA. They must take their time and think wisely and deeply. Otherwise the stop situation will remain unbroken for years and years to come.
