A galaxy of Europe's coaching elite gathered yesterday in Warsaw for the fifth UEFA Conference for European National Coaches and the stars shining for England in the Polish capital are Sven-Goran Eriksson and The FA's Technical Director, Howard Wilkinson.

 

Other names on the register alongside Howard and Sven are the likes of Giovanni Trapattoni, boss of Italy, Jacques Santini, the newly appointed coach of France and Germany's Rudi Völler. In the company of so many of Europe's top football managers, Wilkinson is aware of the lack of English blood and he spoke of The FA's plans for the future of English coaching that he hopes will change that.

"It is a source of pride and frustration that I am the last Englishman to have managed a team to the English title," explained the former Leeds United manager to the Daily Telegraph,

"Part of my job as technical director is to put the foreign managers out of work.

"We have got to become exporters of managerial talent and the sooner we have an English manager at Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan the better. I can see that down the line. The early signs are good with coaches like Steve McClaren, who has a lot to offer."

Wilkinson acknowledges that most of the leading managers in the country are from foreign soil, but he sees that changing over the coming years as a new crop of young coaches begin to flourish: "A perfect example is Steve Cotterill [at Stoke City] because he mirrors managers like Sven-Goran Eriksson, Gerard Houllier and Arsene Wenger."

He continued: "I have also been very impressed with Stuart Pearce, who goes much farther and deeper than 'Three Lions on a shirt',

"Stuart's management material. Alan Shearer's background up to now would suggest that he has everything going for him. The good young coaches are there; it's just like young players, they need the chance."

But not only does Wilkinson want English coaches to come through, he wants their clubs to produce and nurture the young players who will be able bring success at domestic and international level, "A club has to develop youngsters," added the Sheffield born former Wednesday player.

"Young players who have been brought up in a place give a team heart, vigour and for a while a sense of loyalty. Look at Manchester United in the Nineties or the embryonic Leeds team two years ago or Celtic when they won the European Cup or Liverpool sometimes when the right names are on the sheet."

The FA has identified the very young as a starting point and is eager to encourage their interest in playing the game more, so children, instead of sitting in front of the TV, will take a football outside to enjoy a kick-about which will then provide an opportunity for development.

"The one we have to really crack is the seven to 12-year-old range, where skills are developed, because the team which wins the World Cup usually has the most players who get you off your seat. Fifty years ago we had loads of those - Stanley Matthews, Wilf Mannion, Raich Carter, Tom Finney and later on, Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton."

"In England, we have a stronger football culture than anywhere in the world apart from Rio and Sao Paulo. You wouldn't say that Brazil has a strong football culture - but those two centres do. Brazil have a natural resource of players and they work hard at that."

"We have to make football special. Children these days do not want to get changed under the hedge or play out in the cold and rain on bad pitches. We can't rely on what Joe Mercer said for them to 'grow wild' in the back streets any more. We have the will and foresight to put money and resources into raising the quality of leadership and facilities - at every level."

After claiming their World Cup prize, the Brazilian way of football is again a source of inspiration and is something Wilkinson would like to adopt in England

"We haven't got the side-streets or sunshine to produce a young Ronaldinho, Ronaldo or Rivaldo, so how do we do it? We do it by encouraging free expression, giving young English players examples of that Ronaldinho run against England, showing them that Brazilians are all comfortable with the ball, in any position.

"The Brazilians at the World Cup were very athletic, agile, brave, competitive and composed with a keen tactical awareness. Brazil are the template. Our philosophy is to develop kids and why shouldn't our target be to be as good as Brazil?

And if the country's youngsters have the determination to be the best, England can surely reach the summit.