Vicente del Bosque and Bert van Marwijk prove yet again that indigenous managers enjoy an upper hand over their foreign counterparts in the World Cups.
While South Africa 2010 will go down in the history books for several records, one legacy will remain unchanged — that of the World Cup winning coaches.
As one staggers towards the end of the 19th FIFA World Cup, the curse of foreign coach continues to haunt the teams as Holland and Spain prove yet again that it is the home grown coaches who make the difference. “Very few foreign coaches have the chance to coach the big countries, those that are normally the hot favourites for the tournament,” Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, who coached hosts South Africa during this World Cup, points out.
A big reason Spain’s Vicente Del Bosque and his Dutch counterpart Bert van Marwijk will square off in Sunday’s World Cup final is down to the subtler art of man management. “That
kind of connect is only possible if the coach hails from the same country,” Parreira adds.
Van Marwijk, who was seen as uncharismatic and untested, was not really wanted by many when Marco van Basten’s reign ended but has yet to put a foot wrong. While Del Bosque, a double Champions League winner with Real Madrid, has been the most comforting safe pair of hands, preaching continuity after taking over from the man who won the European Championship, Luis Aragones.
Heading into the tournament, van Marwijk certainly had the tougher task. The Netherlands have long been blessed with talent, but their affinity for self-destruction is legendary. Van Marwijk has successfully moved to douse any smoldering resentment within the team that might come to the surface. For instance, striker Robin van Persie reacted badly to being substituted against Cameroon, stating that playmaker Wesley Sneijder should have come off instead. Van Marwijk quickly called a team meeting to clear the air, revealing a manager who is not only in charge, but one who is constantly taking the pulse of his team. “I pay a lot of attention to non-verbal communication,” van Marwijk says. “I know that a little joke with a player or a tap on the head can mean much more than long conversations. But I do talk with them, of course.”
Del Bosque was faced with a trickier challenge, inheriting a side containing big egos and bigger success following the team’s run to the Euro 2008 title. Instead his calm, unassuming demeanour in dealing with players was lauded as the key to the team’s success.
“Everyone has the right to express his opinion,” Del Bosque was quoted as saying earlier this week. “I will never utter a single word against the former coach because there is no Spain of Luis (Aragones) or Spain of Del Bosque. There is only one Spain. I am here to try to ensure that things work out as well as possible and not debate things with the former coach,” the Spanish coach went on to add.
One certainly can’t argue with Van Marwijk’s results, and the same can be said for Del Bosque. And while only one side will come out on top in Sunday’s grand finale, neither team will lack for the self-belief that has been instilled by each manager.
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