Sadly, Taylor set the tone for the England job
THE documentary that defined Graham Taylor’s 38-game tenure as England manager was titled An Impossible Job. And ever since then, it has been. Taylor’s time in charge became a watershed in the way the man who runs the English national team is treated by the media and, by extension, the public.
England bosses before him had faced criticism. His predecessor, Sir Bobby Robson, had been once been implored: “In the name of God, Go”. Even Sir Alf Ramsey had to dodge a few brickbats. But with Taylor, a line was crossed after England’s defeat to Sweden brought elimination from Euro 92. It became personal. The following day, a tabloid newspaper merged his face with a picture of a turnip to illustrate the nowinfamous headline: “Swedes 2, Turnips 1”.
Spitting Image jumped on the bandwagon and gave Taylor his own unflattering puppet.
He eventually resigned – perhaps the only manager ever to do so after a 7-1 victory – when the team failed to reach the 1994 World Cup Finals despite a win in San Marino.
The documentary that defined him was made during the qualification process and later became colloquially known as: “Do I Not Like That”, a phrase memorably uttered on camera by Taylor.
But the original title is still the most appropriate. Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Keegan, Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson and Sam Allardyce will testify to that.
All have found that being England manager means enduring a level of scrutiny, intrusion and abuse that borders on the unacceptable.
Taylor allowed fly-on-the-wall access because he felt he’d been unfairly treated. He thought he could redress the balance – but it only made things worse.
Reputational damage on the scale Taylor suffered is hard to repair. That was a shame because he was an innovative coach, a real football person and a thoroughly nice bloke.
Taylor’s professional highlight was to lead Watford from Division Four to runners-up in the old First Division in five years, and to the 1984 FA Cup Final.
If what Claudio Ranieri did last season was a miracle, we’ll have to invent a new word for that achievement.
The news of his death on Thursday saw tributes that were universally warm, affectionate and respectful.
Maybe those who’d satirised him so cruelly back in the day were just a little embarrassed.
Let’s hope so.