England, Tuchel, a new deal but the need for a break clause
Important to heed lessons from history going back to Italia 90
Back in the day when reporters and England managers were closer, Bobby Robson occasionally graced the press team. In his mid- 50s, Robson’s enthusiasm was legendary, urging the hacks on when 4-0 down at half-time in one game at Bisham Abbey with a confident “we can still turn this round, lads”.
That was in the build-up to Italia 90 and before news broke that Robson would join PSV Eindhoven after the tournament. There was outrage in the press, amongst those who’d shared a pitch, dressing-room and drink with him. Robson was even called a “traitor” in one headline, an allegation that understandably wounded a proudly patriotic man. He successfully sued.
This was just before my time covering England but I heard all the stories and the incident is worth recalling amidst the current focus on Thomas Tuchel signing a two-year extension as England head coach to take him to Euro 2028. There is a German theme to much of the reflections about whether the FA has learned from history. Don’t mention the score.
Most focus currently is on what happened when Fabio Capello’s contract was tweaked before the 2010 World Cup. Amidst speculation linking Capello to Inter Milan, the FA agreed the removal of the post-tournament break clause in his long-term contract (it wasn’t a new contract). This effectively meant that even if England bombed in South Africa Capello’s contract would run on until 2012.
It duly came to pass: England were wretched at the World Cup, given the runaround by Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and their fellow Germans in Bloemfontein and knocked out. Capello limped on as manager in an occasionally febrile atmosphere before leaving in February 2012.
There was understanding for the FA’s pre-tournament move with Capello because of fears that England could lose an elite coach who’d guided the team effortlessly through qualifying. Tuchel romped through qualifying even more serenely, winning eight, and not conceding a goal. Headlines recently linked him with jobs at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. So the FA acted, extending his deal. But how wise is this? The FA needed to look at more than the Capello episode. It needs examining far more deeply.