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Journalism of Courage
England fired coach Steve McClaren today, a day after the team lost to Croatia and failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.
Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson said McClaren’s contract had been terminated with immediate effect, along with that of assistant Terry Venables.
Needing only a draw at Wembley to qualify for Euro 2008, England were beaten 2-3 by Croatia last night. Croatia had already qualified, and the other spot from Group E went to Russia.
It was the first time since the 1994 World Cup that England had failed to qualify for a major championship and first since 1984 that the team will miss the Euros.
McClaren said after the game that he would not be quitting, but the 12-man FA board called an emergency board meeting today morning to decide on his dismissal. “Qualifying for a major tournament is probably the minimum requirement,” FA chief executive Brian Barwick said at a news conference. “I think that Steve thinks that as well. Not qualifying for Euro 2008 comes up short.”
Under McClaren, England won nine games, lost five and drew four. His 18-game tenure was the shortest of any full-time England coach.
“Of course, we have no divine right to play in major tournaments, but it is quite right that qualification is expected,” Thompson said.
“Of course we feel embarrassed,” he added. “We expect as a major nation in Europe to qualify for European Championships and World Cups.”
The FA itself has come in for scathing criticism, and Barwick took the unusual step of apologising to the fans for the failure. “I care about this passionately,” he said. “This hasn’t ever been just a job to me. I’m in this job because I care about football and football fans and football teams. Last night was a tough night to take.”
Jose Mourinho, Hiddink, Scolari, Italy’s World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi and Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill are among the names considered as possible replacements for McClaren.
