http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fit...084117843.html
‘Give the England job to Mourinho’
Who's the best man for the job?
That's the burning question on the lips of every long-suffering England fan following the sudden departure of Italian Fabio Capello aft 4 years in charge.
With the European Championships in Ukraine & Poland slightly over 4 months away, the search is never going 2 be easy. But already, several managers hv been touted as potential replacements, with 1 name ringing louder than the rest — Harry Redknapp.
Timing-wise, it seems perfect as the 64-year-old Spurs manager has just been cleared of tax evasion charges — thought 2 be the only thing clouding his candidacy — just hours b4 Capello cleared his desk. Heck, Redknapp's even got the stamp of approval fr Wayne Rooney, who went on Twitter 2 proclaim him the ideal candidate.
Bookmakers in Britain hv also slashed the odds on Redknapp being offered the job, with William Hill changing the odds fr 2/1 to 1/2. It's not hard 2 see why as other names in the frame include WBA manager Roy Hodgson (surely not) & Newcastle's Alan Pardew (definitely not).
But is ol' Harry really the man 4 the job? I don't think so.
Redknapp is without doubt a fine manager, with Spurs flying high in the Premier League. But with such gifted players like Gareth Bale, Emmanuel Adebayor & Rafael Van der Vaart playing the best football of their careers so far, can they NOT be soaring?
My point is any half decent manager will be able 2 achieve the same results — or more — with Spurs' glittering wealth of talent.
The Spurs manager may be widely lauded 4 his man-management skills but he certainly left those abilities behind when he embarrassed Darren Bent aft a match against Portsmouth in 2009.
Then, aft the hapless striker missed an easy header 2 score, Redknapp famously uttered the words "my missus could hv scored it".
2 be fair, Redknapp has since apologized 4 his gaffe but with Bent among the leading candidates set 2 shoulder England's goal-scoring hopes in the Euros (Rooney suspended 4 the 1st 2 games), the duo will make 4 an uneasy relationship. The other big question, of course, is would Harry 1 the job? He's guided Spurs in2 a serious title contender, & even he — though he's openly admitted interest in the England job b4 — may 1 2 see tis thru.
But if not Redknapp then who? The easy answer: look 2 Spain. More specifically, @ Madrid where a certain sulking Portuguese maestro is making his unhappiness known in no uncertain terms.
Jose Mourinho is the perfect man 2 take over the poisoned chalice tat is the England football manager's job 4 several reasons.
He has the right credentials & experience having won domestic & continental titles with almost every team he's managed. And his ability 2 bring out the best in his charges is unquestioned. More importantly, he will be able 2 massage Terry's ego @ losing the captaincy 4 the 2nd time fr their time 2gether @ Chelsea, while also making sure the Blues skipper is committed 2 the cause.
At a time when England's other options @ centre-half r either chronically injured (Rio Ferdinand), not getting regular games @ their clubs (Gary Cahill) or 2 inexperienced (Chris Smalling & Phil Jones), Terry's whole-hearted participation & dedication in Ukraine-Poland is critical.
The charismatic Mourinho's skilled handling of the British press will also be crucial. 1 of Capello's major failings as England manager was his inability 2 engage the unrelenting media hacks. In contrast, Mourinho seems 2 hv an unfinished love relationship with the journalists & will hv no problem getting their support & endorsement — yet another pre-requisite 4 any aspiring England manager.
Ideally, Mourinho can be England manager all the way thru till the next World Cup in Brazil in 2014 (provided England qualifies), b4 stepping down 2 take over fr SAF @ ManU (heh, tat's my wish anyway).
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would be a major stumbling block 2 Mourinho becoming available but with the FA having deep pockets 2 pay 4 any compensation, Perez being Perez can surely be bought.
So, it's time 2 act now, FA. Get Mourinho in the hotseat quickly b4 the real battles begin on the pitch in June.