This might not be an earth-shattering revelation, but it can’t be much fun being a Premiership manager.
They know this when they take the job, of course, but it still catches many unawares. Often what gets them is the the very essence of the job; You take all the criticism when things go wrong, and continue largely unnoticed when things go right.
If you happen to be an English manager, however, that rule is even more apt. In the modern media it is fashionable to ridicule English coaching methods, so the slightest error will be mercilessly picked apart. And at the other end of the scale, any success that does not include something tangible (trophies) will be routinely ignored.
Take Gareth Southgate, for example. The current Middlesbrough manager has worked tirelessly since he was appointed to the job, in May 2006.
Since then, partly as a result of the Teeside club’s unfashionable reputation, the former England international has received little media coverage, other than a period of criticism surrounding his initial appointment.
This might not be surprising, until you consider that the 38-year-old has probably gone on to mastermind one of the most impressive revolutions of any top flight club.
It is easy to forget that Southgate succeeded Steve McClaren as Boro’s manager, after the “Wally in the Brolly” departed for his ill-fated spell as England manager. McClaren hardly left him a great squad, either.
Yes, the team had reached the UEFA Cup final that season, but it had been more a result of Stewart Downing and Massimo Maccarone’s consistent last-ditch heroics than any tactical acumen on McClaren’s part (few could argue it was his plan to go 4-1 down in every game).
More pertinently, during McClaren’s last season at the club supporter morale reached an all-time low. One fan, outraged by the consistently poor performances he saw from the team (they lost 7-0 to Arsenal that season), entered the Riverside pitch during one game, approached the manager, and threw his season ticket at him in disgust.
He simply could not take it anymore.
While things did improve slightly as the season ended, this was basically the environment into which Southgate entered. Even for an experienced manager it would have been a daunting task, never mind for a rookie who didn’t even have the requisite coaching licenses.
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