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Far from where soccer is pitted hopelessly against cricket and where he may next be headed, English coach Bob Houghton had played a part in revolutionising football in the land of compulsive skiers.

Far from where soccer is pitted hopelessly against cricket and where he may next be headed, English coach Bob Houghton had played a part in revolutionising football in the land of compulsive skiers.

Sweden in 1970s was primarily engrossed in long slides down the snow and adamant about short passes up the soccer park, but India8217;s newly-appointed coach 8212; AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco made the announcement today 8212; had gradually effected a turnaround which changed the way the Scandinavians played their football.

On his way to three league titles in the Swedish Championship with Malmo, Houghton also managed to impress upon a young Sven Goran Erikkson the efficacy of the English system, which the now-England manager later followed-up zealously tracking Sir Bobby Robson from the Ipswich bench.

Pressing hard when the opposition has the ball, playing with a flat back-four, guarding zonally, and the one that met the most resistance in Sweden 8212; the utility of the long ball.

Along with another Englishman Roy Hodgson who also trooped towards the Baltic, Houghton ensured that the 8216;English8217; organisation prevailed in the face of a huge debate raised by local coaches and eventually became the norm as the duo8217;s players flooded the national side.

Of the six years between 1974-80, Houghton won four, and the culmination was an appearance in the European Cup final in 1979.

Having taken charge of Malmo at 27 after manning the midfield for Fulham from 1966-69 and Brighton from 1969 to 1970, Houghton left a big mark on the European stage at 32.

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At an even younger age, Houghton had earlier secured the 8217;A8217; licence badge of the English FA.

Tord Grip, Eriksson8217;s once assistant first lapped up Houghton and Hodgson8217;s system, and though the two H8217;s left for Bristol City soon after 1980, the trend was carried forward at Eriksson8217;s Gothenburg which promptly assumed the national league honours. The transformation in Sweden was largely possible since the Swedes were blessed with supreme strength. When he lands in India, Houghton will find a different level of fitness 8212; though his many years spent with various Asian sides would have prepared him for that.

He may choose to rethink that much-professed 4-4-2 while operating in India; but it is Houghton8217;s ability to repeatedly script the turnarounds, the first of which emerged from Sweden, that might prove the point of relevance after digging into history.

BIG SCALPS

In his 30-year-long coaching career Houghton has achieved success in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America and Asia.

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8226; Took Swedish Malmo to European Cup final in 1979 besides winning the league four times

8226; Guided China to World Cup qualification in 2002

8226; Coached Al Ittihad to FIFA Club World Championship.

8226; In August 2005, managed Uzbekistan to a stunning 3-2 win over Kuwait 8212; a shock-result in Asian football.

8226; Last assignment with Chinese side Shenyang Ginde.

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