Why the Premierleague needs more English managers, and what to learn from Germany and the Bundesliga

[THREAD]

”If I hadn’t been promoted with Bournemouth, I probably wouldn’t be managing in the Premierleague”

The words of Eddie Howe when asked about the lack of English managers in the Premierleague.

A sad reflection. Eddie Howe was touted as the next big hope for English managers.

The Premierleague likes to put on this image that it’s the best etc, but it seemingly doesn’t have faith in its own managers.

Currently in the Premierleague only 7 of the 20 managers are English. They include stalwarts like Roy Hodson and Sam Allardyce.

If you take the ‘big six’ as an example, over the past 10 years, only the likes of Roy Hodson, Harry Redknapp and most recently Frank Lampard, have been employed by England’s biggest clubs.

”If I was called 'Allardicio' I could have managed Man Utd”- Allardyce.

When asked if he would ever manage one of England’s big clubs, he went on to say; "I won't ever be going to a top-four club because I'm not called 'Allardici', just Allardyce."

A joke? Or cruel reality?

One could make the argument that these managers are not good enough to be sustainable in the Premierleague, or at the very least, the top ambitious clubs.

It raises a good point however. Recently the clubs like Man United/Liverpool and Chelsea have shunned their own in favour

Of managers from abroad. These are seen as the ‘glamour’ types, getting in managers like Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho give the league a status that promoting from within just wouldn’t.

Will we see an English manager lift the Premierleague? I highly doubt it myself.

English managers in the Premierleague are almost looked down upon, consigned to teams at the bottom, who ‘can’t get someone from abroad’, like having a foreign manager of any sorts is some sort of status symbol in itself.

English managers are seen as ones you get when you’re struggling, when you can’t attract any better almost. The likes of Allardyce and Hodgson prime examples.

Are there any upcoming English managers? In the lower leagues maybe, but will they get a chance? Highly doubtful.

In the Bundesliga there has been great strides in development of young managers, age and experience no longer seem to be the most important factors but a modern style and methods and man management. Many of its coaches are under 50, with fresh new ideas.

I feel that the Premierleague is too far gone in terms of its dependence on foreign investment, both in the boardrooms and in the dugouts.

Since the league started in 1992, no English managers have won the top division. Howard Wilkinson with Leeds United in 1991, the last one.

It has had success within the British isles. Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the best managers the game has ever seen, won 13 titles. He is the last winner from the UK, back in 2013. Manchester United’s last PL win.

Clubs like Chelsea have employed only Frank Lampard in recently history as manager, from English roots.

So much money has been ‘wasted’ at Chelsea on bringing in managers from abroad, coming in with big expectations but dropping like a stone.

Managers like Guus Hiddink and Felipe Scolari were brought in with huge expectations and never really lived up to those; the former only lasting 7 months, citing arguments with Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba as a stumbling block.

It begs the question why not use these huge resources to develop your own talent?

The reason is the money in the game. The foreign ownership of these clubs mean that short term success is valued more than long term development.

We saw, during the ESL protests, that fans want to wrestle back control of their clubs, citing the 50+1 rule that Germany holds, as one of its main arguments.

Having the foreign owners and investment in the Premierleague means it is bad for the English game, and for the

development of talent, both for players and indeed for managers .

These owners aren’t English, some never set foot in England, so why should they care about investing in promoting from within. This process is not a guarantee for success, and they want success NOW, not in years

One could make the argument that the money wasted on these ‘big names’ could be put to better use.

Chelsea; 3 premierleague titles in the last 10 years, with their investment that surely can’t be good enough.

Only Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers have won the Premierleague outside of the ‘big six’, since it’s arrival in 1992.

Now I don’t know about you, but that sounds mighty predictable, not at all the competitive premierleague that fans seem to make out.

The way that the ESL came about is indicative of the success of the likes of Leicester.

These owners don’t want to have that type of ‘fairytale’ if it means they miss out on their own success. So let’s create our own sense of entitlement shall we.

The stark reality is for those who defend the Premierleague for its ‘competitiveness’ use Leicester City as an example of ‘anyone can win it’, the statistics seem to show otherwise.

That whilst a fairytale like Leicester is of course possible, it’s hugely unlikely.

The top clubs in England have created a monopoly amongst themselves, and the whole league. Whilst we see the likes of West Ham etc push for higher positions, the final champion will be one of those 6 teams.

Now people will say what about the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich have been dominating for years and look to make it 9 leagues in a row come Saturday.

The success of Bayern, and of German football however, is of its own making.

In contrast to England, 11 of the Bundesliga managers who started the 2020/21 season were German, and many who aren’t, grew up in Germany through playing for teams within the Bundesliga.

Also in contrast to England, the top clubs in Germany trust German managers to take them forward.

Managers like Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann, Marco Rose are managing at the very top of the league, and achieving successes.

Germany has also produced managers like Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, two of the best managers in the world; both made in the Bundesliga.

Many fans believe that the 50+1 rule is purely for keeping fans in control of their clubs, and whilst that’s true, it has another purpose.

Having control over their clubs, it forces these clubs to develop and nurture their own pool of managers, bringing through the likes of Nagelsmann at such a young age. Also investing into the next generation after him, people like Sebastian Hoeness at Hoffenheim.

Having that close connection in terms of grassroots level, gives the fans a sense of closeness with their club, and managers feel a connection with the fan base because of it.

Part of the reform of English football that has to happen, is at grassroots level, and that doesn’t just limit to players.

There needs to be proper investment in English managers, so that one can successfully manage a team at the top of its league.

English football needs to wrestle back its soul from these vacuous owners.

People who praise the Bundesliga for its model will use the argument of ‘we don’t want the Premierleague to be boring like the Bundesliga’, well, the PL to me seems highly predictable as it is now.

The image that the Premierleague has created is more important to some fans than having English managers and players at the heart of their clubs.

They want success and they also want fans to have control. This can be achieved, but it is a course of action undertaken over years

Of development and change. Is English football too far gone for such changes? I hope not.

I want to see an English manager win the top division, for the fans to have someone managing their club. To have managers who’ve come through a system of reformed ideas and investment.

Because right now, all the Premierleagues success is built from abroad, the only thing English about it, is where the games are played. And if the ESL is anything to go by, that may not even exist soon enough.

The crux of the matter is, England doesn’t trust its own managers to make the step up. This reliance on foreign talent needs to end, take back control, and take back the dugout!

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