Fabio Capello has made clear his intention to retire from football management following Euro 2012. Instead he will return to Italy to try his hand at commentating on the game. In doing so, he will become the first England manager since Ron Greenwood, way back in 1982, to resist the temptation to jump back onto the managerial merry-go-round. Sensible chap, one might think, when you examine the records of those who gave it another go.
Of the seven England bosses during the intervening period, only the late, great Sir Bobby Robson could claim to have had regular success following his departure from the national job. He won silverware abroad, mentoring Jose Mourinho and managing Barcelona along the way, before returning home to over-achieve with Newcastle United.
Graham Taylor found himself at the other end of the success spectrum having already suffered a nightmarish tenure in the England hot-seat. Following initial failure at Wolves, Taylor was tempted back to Watford and, later, Aston Villa to try to recapture some of the glory he had achieved at both clubs which had led to him being rewarded with the England job in 1990. Again, he was unable to weave any magic and has ended up following the path into punditry himself.
Terry Venables’ can perhaps be considered the most unlucky in his post-England efforts. His time at Portsmouth, Crystal Palace and Leeds United were all beset by financial turmoil.
Next up was Glenn Hoddle. He fared marginally better, keeping Southampton in the top flight before taking the helm at Spurs. Whilst at the Lane, he guided the club to a League Cup final and picked up a few Manager of the Month awards but couldn’t take them on to the next level. His last dabble in management with Wolves ended in a whimper. These days, Hoddle is focused on coaching and youth development through his Academy based in Spain.
Kevin Keegan maintained some popularity among fans after stepping down from England. Despite nagging concerns over his tactical naivety, he was generally well received at Manchester City and had a respectable record there before his much lauded return to Newcastle in 2008. Unfortunately, we were all denied the chance to see if Keegan could fully restore his managerial reputation. His acrimonious departure from St James’ Park came only eighteen months later and Keegan hasn’t been hired since.
Sven-Goran Eriksson did a decent enough job at Manchester City too but parted company with the club trophy-less. A truly forgettable stint as national coach of Mexico and a brief spell in charge of the Ivory Coast in 2010 bracketed his involvement in the Notts County “circus” as Director of Football. Sven now finds himself in charge of “nouveau riche” Leicester City and the pressure is on for him to prove his worth once more.
The jury is also out on the last man to leave the England post, Steve McClaren. Opting to try his luck on the continent, McClaren won a title with FC Twente but then struggled at Wolfsburg. He has now returned to the English game with Nottingham Forest but has had a shaky start in the Championship.
In recent years, the England job has come to be regarded as a poisoned chalice by many observers given the nation’s expectation levels and the intense scrutiny that the post entails. On reflection it would also appear that failure at this level, perceived or actual, has plagued those who have attempted bring success to England long after they have left the job. Will this legacy deter potential applicants for the post once Capello vacates it?
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