A Mariner at Harvard

Paul Mariner was known as an extrovert - even eccentric - centre-forward with Plymouth, Ipswich, Arsenal and England.

So when his old pal Mick Mills offered him a job as youth coach at Birmingham City, Mariner decided to say 'No' and fly six thousand miles to start a new life in the desert of Phoenix, Arizona.

Nobody can doubt he made the right decision. This week Mariner is coaching the cream of young American players alongside Jurgen Klinsmann and next month he and second wife Dedi will move to Boston when Mariner starts work as assistant-coach of Harvard University.

Harvard is rated America's top college. Among its graduates are 30 Pulitzer Prize winners, 30 Nobel Laureates and six US Presidents, including Franklin Roosvelt and John Kennedy.

No wonder Mariner is excited about the new challenge.

"Harvard is the equivalent to Oxford or Cambridge University but American colleges also take their sports extremely seriously.

"As soon as I take the job, we are flying to England for games against Ipswich and Spurs and then continuing the tour to Italy."

Mariner, who won 35 England caps and spearheaded the attack in the 1982 World Cup when he scored in the opening match against France, first arrived in America in 1988 to coach a team called the Albany Capitals.

By the time he returned to England to do some radio work and coaching at Preston, he had met and was about to marry Dedi. And that played a major part in his decision to turn down the chance at Birmingham.

"I decided it would be better for the marriage if I went to America where I set up my own club SC Del Sol which ran teams from five-year-olds to 18.

"Things have really taken off from there. Every year I am part of an elite programme of coaching (sponsored by Adidas) which picks up the best 150 American kids.

"Jurgen Klinsmann is the director of the programme and football being such a small world, you are always bumping into familiar faces. This week I am working with Bob McNab who won the Double with Arsenal and now lives in California."

Mariner, who turned 50 in May, is astounded by the raw footballing talent in America and he has already earmarked one youngster from Virginia, Danny Karbassiyoon, who is expected to sign for Arsenal.

"This lad Danny came from an obscure team in Virginia and we saw straight away he was two-footed and had great vision. In fact he was so good, me and Bob McNab got straight on the phone to the Arsenal Chief Scout. He flew out to America, liked what he saw and the kid has been doing really well at Arsenal. They are expected to sign him soon."

From this year's batch of young players, Mariner has recommended a couple to Ipswich while another lad is bound for Valencia.

Mariner believes even England, the home of football can learn something about teaching the game, from America.

"The game is massive in both the inner cities and middle America. I have mellowed now that I am a teacher or a head coach.

"I used to try anything in England to get a psychological edge and backchat to referees but here I am a role model. I won't speak to the refs during matches, if I have something to say I will wait until the game is over.

"There is a lot of money in America so even non-professional sides have nutritionists, track and field coaches helping the players.

"If England had the same kind of scientific and technical back-up for players, we would be able to take on the world."

Mariner's most successful days came with Bobby Robson's Ipswich, famously helping them to win the FA Cup in 1978.

He was first-pick at the 1982 World Cup and played up front with Trevor Francis when Kevin Keegan was injured. He embarked on a run of scoring in six successive games for England, equalling the record set by his boyhood hero Jimmy Greaves.

He has also stayed close to Arsenal, although is one regret is that he never won trophies towards the end of his career at Highbury.

"The club treated me like a king, I was just sorry that I couldn't give my best and got injured," he says.

"I would like to have played my top stuff at Arsenal. Everyone was fantastic at the club, from the board of directors to the laundry ladies. Working under a coach like Don Howe was a big thrill as well."

Mariner may not have won trophies with Arsenal but if his 'discovery' Karbassiyoon ends up a Highbury hit, the Gunners will be very grateful.

As the scholars at Harvard will find out soon, Mariner is brighter than he looks!

Paul Mariner was talking to Joe Bernstein

Did You Know?

Paul Mariner's winning goal against Hungary in 1981 was historic. It meant England had qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 20 years (we were hosts in 1966 and holders in 1970)

Paul Mariner 

Nationality: English
Place of Birth:  Bolton, Lancs
Date of Birth:  22 May 1953
Height: n 5' 11''
Weight: 11 04
Clubs: Ipswich Town, Arsenal 
Position: Forward