Kolkata: The England U-17 team defied all past history and disappointments of not winning any international tournament since that windy night at Wembley in 1966 and fellow countryman Teddy Sheringham will be expected to do the same when he leads team ATK as a coach in the fourth edition of the Indian Super League. The team has tasted success in abundance in the short history of the league but not Teddy, the manager and he looks to draw inspiration form the way the English U-17 boys played in the victorious campaign in India.
“The way the English U-17 boys played and won the World Cup, I will surely love to emulate their style and play like them. I was very impressed with their unusual style. They were much better from the back and their control on the ball was excellent. Hopefully we will take some lead from them into the ISL season,” said Sheringham at the official ATK Jersey release in Kolkata on Monday.
The Kolkata based franchise with it’s association with La Liga club Atletico Madrid, have tasted success playing the Spanish way and with Spanish coaches in the helm. But, with the break of partnerships, came the change in style and although Sheringham assured of taking hint out of Steve Cooper’s (England U-17 Coach) book, he also mentioned that ATK will play in the ‘British style.’
The British style has however changed with the passing of time. From long balls from the back and physical football to playing the more passing game and using the wings to attack, all of England’s teams from senior to the U-15s now have added a Spanish touch to their game.
“We’ve played like we want all of our England teams to play, Brave on the ball – pass, get into good areas, play as a team. We played our way back in and stuck to our style. We are building for the future and that is the way to do it,” said Steve Cooper after his boys brushed aside Spain 5-2 in the final of the U-17 World Cup.
A slight blend of Spanish philosophy is the new English model of football, played in almost all the grass-root levels, which Steve Cooper claimed to have acquired under the influence of José “Pep” Segura, now a Barcelona Youth Coach.
Teddy however is not as experienced as Cooper was with his young teenagers. The former Manchester United great has not had great experiences as a coach. He started as an attacking coach with West Ham United and then joined third division club Stevenage as it’s head coach on 21 May 2015. But was sacked eight months later, with the team struggling at 19th position and with just three points in the last eight matches.
“I can only lead by the way I have being brought up as a young player and then as a senior player. I will pass on what I know and that is the British mentality. But, I have also looked to the Indian players and the way they play. They have been adapting well, to what we have been telling them, they have been impressive,” he said, before concluding, “But, it will be more of a British style because that’s what I know and hopefully that will be good enough for ATK, in our aim for the third title in four years.”