Glenn Hoddle is a man worth listening to.
Decorated as a player and one of those rare Englishmen for whom putting his foot on the ball and pinging a pass to a team-mate stood 70 yards away came naturally, he also rose to the top as a manager, leading the national side to the World Cup in France in 1998.
His early promise in charge of Swindon and Chelsea was enough to convince the FA that he was worth a punt as Terry Venables’ successor, and Hoddle handled the pressure of taking over from one of the most popular Three Lions’ bosses in decades with aplomb.
Displaying tactical nous, he put together a coherent national side with more resilience than we had become accustomed to, highlighted by that gritty goalless draw against Italy in Rome which secured safe passage to the World Cup.
But instead of building on a promising campaign which ended with the obligatory penalty shoot-out defeat, Hoddle lost himself the job when he went on record with the suggestion that disabled people were being punished for sins committed in a previous life.
Now, as ill-judged as it was for Hoddle to go public with such beliefs, this is not the reason why he is unsuitable to take over as England under-21s manager.
He has had plenty to say in recent weeks (luckily sticking to the safer ground of football this time) and he echoed the sentiments of many in the game when he said it is time for big changes at under-21 level, not just in terms of coaches but also making players available for tournaments.
Hoddle has experience of the international scene and a fine playing career from which he can draw and share experience and hopefully come up with some jolly good suggestions.
Any ideas are surely welcome following the shambolic end to Stuart Pearce’s tenure.
But why the sudden clamour to give Hoddle the job?
Yes, he was a cracking player – so was Pearce. So was David Platt.
Yes, he did a good job with the senior national side – but that was 15 years ago.
Can the ‘Hoddle in’ brigade call on any recent football successes other than his punditry? It is more than a decade since his beloved Tottenham Hotspur put sentiment to one side and gave him his marching orders, following a decent spell at Southampton.
A draw-laden stint at Championship side Wolves was desperately short of the entertainment he reportedly demanded from all of his players at international and club level and he stepped down in the summer of 2006 after fans turned on him.
That was his last managerial position.
In the subsequent seven years the 55-year-old has divided his time between television commitments and the Glenn Hoddle Academy, set up to give youngsters released by English clubs a second chance at making it as professionals.
Many of those calling for Hoddle to get the nod as under-21s boss are basing their argument on the academy link. “Hoddle cares about young footballers, he knows what it’s all about.”
But are the current crop of England youngsters really going to relate to and be inspired by a man who hasn’t managed in seven years and, reportedly, falls out with anyone who can’t emulate the excellent range of passing and skills he possessed?
These young men didn’t even grow up watching Hoddle play. If the FA are determined to go down the ex-player route, why not pick someone from Hoddle’s World Cup squad? The Neville brothers and Sol Campbell all have their merits and are at least more current in the eyes of the under-21s.
But if the decision-makers are prepared to think outside the box, surely former Manchester United coach René Meulensteen is worth an interview.
Widely-credited with helping to make the champions tick under Sir Alex Ferguson before being deemed surplus to requirements by David Moyes this summer, he has the coaching know-how, big match experience and, crucially, a fresh philosophy to bring to the table.
England’s youngsters are at an all-time low. New ideas and suggestions should be welcomed with open arms by the FA. If Hoddle can help, let him help. But his time in the dug-out has come and gone.
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
You know that Hoddle would never accept U21 rule, so you are just unhappy to see FA talking with him about ideas?
And you prefer People who never did coaching before like Campbell & Neville who never used to coach instead of him just to see those young players excited?!
Glenn should be managing the British Paralympic football side. That’ll learn him.