Sir Alex Ferguson admits that the job of England manager is a "horrible" one and not a position he would like to be in.
Whether of their own making or not, England managers never seem far from the spotlight for the wrong reasons, with every slight misstep plunged under the microscope.
Current Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson has endured a tough week in what should be a period of celebration following England's qualification for the World Cup, with the focus instead falling on a joke that Hodgson made during the half-time break in Tuesday's match against Poland.
Hodgson has been criticised in some quarters for referring to a joke about a monkey and an astronaut when talking about Andros Townsend, with cries of racism coming to the fore.
However, with Townsend and other members of the squad coming out in support of Hodgson, it appears to be another case of sensationalism in the press taking the gloss off an England success.
Having seen such scenarios play out many times in the past as England managers struggle to meet the expectations of the public, Ferguson concedes that the job is a thankless one.
"I don't think the manager's job with England is a good one. I think it's a horrible job," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"For instance, (Football Association chairman) Greg Dyke comes out and says they're going to win the World Cup in 2022. He may know something about football - and I'm sure he's trying to learn what's going on - but from grassroots levels right up to the national team, that is a massive job.
"Managers have tried different ways of managing the press. Some have tried to curry favour with some and not others. But because England haven't won the World Cup since 1966 they're all going up the same alley. Unless you win, it's a hard job."
No comments:
Post a Comment