Lions made for Klopp
HE’S THE PERFECT CANDIDATE TO SMASH OUR GERMAN TABOOS
NOT too long ago, the notion of a German ever managing England would have felt like an act of footballing treason.
A crime against the national sport perhaps, but this is 2024 and times have changed.
The best and most successful teams on the planet appoint the best managers, irrespective of their heritage. And the Three Lions should be no different.
In the coming months, Gareth Southgate will decide his future as England boss. He will either sign a new long-term deal or stand down.
Southgate still divides opinion, despite being the most successful Three Lions boss after Sir Alf Ramsey, which is ridiculous as he will be missed when he’s gone.
But while FA chief executive Mark Bullingham is wondering what he should do if Southgate does go, a golden opportunity is staring him in the face.
Someone will be available who is regarded among the elite managers in world football.
He knows English football inside out, speaks the language and has the ultimate respect of everyone in the game.
He’s won lots of trophies at club level.
And he won’t even cost a penny in compensation
– because he’ll be on a well-earned break from management.
His name is
Jurgen Klopp.
And he might have been born in
Stuttgart, but was made in the Premier League. The fact Klopp hails from the country we all love to hate the most is irrelevant.
And I’d wager that if the FA announced him as the next England boss, most supporters would be thrilled to bits.
The feeling within the FA is that another Englishman should follow Southgate, which is as blinkered as it is backward.
While the three best managers we have had have been Englishmen – Ramsey, Southgate and Sir Bobby Robson – some of the worst have been English too, like Steve McClaren, Graham Taylor, Roy Hodgson (top, left)
and Sam Allardyce.
The future of the national team is bright indeed, with talents like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo around, while Harry Kane isn’t close to hanging up his England boots yet.
But there remains that nagging feeling that Southgate is still unable to clear that final hurdle and win a major tournament. I hope he proves me wrong at Euro 2024 this summer.
But if he doesn’t, Bullingham & Co will need to appoint a serial winner capable of taking England to the ultimate glory.
There is a World Cup in North America in 2026 and perhaps the prospect of attempting to win it with a strong squad would appeal to Klopp.
Then again it might not – and he may want to manage Germany.
But if Bullingham doesn’t ask the question, he will be forever left wondering what might have been.