Pep: Brits must head abroad to join elite
PEP GUARDIOLA threw up his hands and declared, “Don’t blame me” at the absence of any British bosses among the Premier League’s elite clubs.
Manchester City’s chief is one of seven foreign coaches occupying the managerial seats of power.
With Italy’s Antonio Conte (Chelsea), Portugal’s Jose Mourinho (Manchester United), Argentina’s Mauricio Pochettino (Spurs), France’s Arsene Wenger (Arsenal), Germany’s Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) and Holland’s Ronald Koeman (Everton), Guardiola completes the group of imported bosses.
He admitted: “Yes, I had the opportunity at Barca when I was young.
“Of course, I would like to see someone like Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe manage a top team here, but that is up to the people who run the club.”
Guardiola believes that it is highly beneficial to manage or coach in a different country.
Adventure
And under the radar – but earning their wages away from these shores – there are a considerable number of Brits.
Stephen Constantine is currently the manager of India; Anthony Hudson, son of former Chelsea star Alan, is in charge of New Zealand; ex-Blackburn boss Steve Kean is plying his trade in Singapore with Brunei DPMM... while ex-Wimbledon, FA Cupwinning star Terry Phelan is the technical director of Kerala Blasters, who play in the Indian Super League.
Phelan revealed: “I thought, ‘I want an adventure, I want to see the world’. And now I’ve got contacts from Alaska to New Zealand.
“Things are happening in India. Liverpool have an academy, Bayern may open one, Hoffenheim take Indian players to Germany.
“At Kerala, we get crowds of between 60,000 and 70,000 – among the best 10 attendances anywhere in the world.”