England aren't a "lucky" team

England aren’t a lucky team!

No doubt the rolling tributes to Gareth Southgate are absolutely well deserved. The way he conducts himself is as a modern manager, and an archetypal Brit. This could be applied to any industry:- have a clear vision, pick the right team, share the vision, take an interest in the team as a team and individuals.

Indeed, the way he’s stuck by players and the team is a tribute to his belief in the team.

He is already arguably the best manager England have ever had, certainly the best since Sir Bobby Robson.

Interestingly, his (Robson’s) memo on effective management reads as true today as any leadership book.

But the success of this England team, in my opinion, dates back to Howard Wilkinson’s work in 2001 where he studied the French team set up at Clairefontaine to create the blueprint for Saint George's Park. The French set up had already helped nurture the World Cup winning squad of 1998 and European Cup in 2000.

As the result of this initiative, despite predictable false starts, England started to build the DNA of what being an England player meant, with Southgate himself growing in the confidence as a coach in this environment.

According to former legends like Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard, this broke the mould of players only sitting with clubmates, in the past reluctant to share tactics. Instead it’s emboldened an England spirit that Southgate, through his management style has propagated and spread.

The respectful moving on of football royalty and the gently mocked Royal Marines training camp no doubt also played a part in this. 

I’m convinced this team ethic is why we’re doing so well. “Luck” after all, is the coincidence of preparation and opportunity.

One could argue that this has not just spread amongst his players and backroom staff, but has had a ripple effect across the whole country.

Football, after all, could well be coming home.

Football's coming home.