On the surface, a national team coach would appear to have the cushiest job in soccer.
WhatÆs in the job description?
Perhaps once a month, he gets his players together for a few days, they play a game or two, and then he goes home.
Between international games? He might attend a few games each week to scout players and spent time watching other games on tape. ItÆs not a job thatÆs going to make his golf game suffer.
To be sure, itÆs an exaggeration. If he does well, a national team coach faces the ultimate pressure cooker, a major championship like the World Cup or European Championship, and 4-6 weeks of being under the media glare each day.
And if he doesnÆt?
The number of national team coaches quitting has reached an alarming rate.
England lost its opening game of World Cup 2002 qualifying, and its head coach, Kevin Keegan quit.
Keegan admitted it was time to go. Other coaches had done far better than him at Euro 2000, and theyÆd quit.
Three of the four teams that reached the semifinals lost their coaches.
Four of the 10 teams in South AmericaÆs qualifying tournament have changed coaches since the start of the year.
WeÆve given up keeping track of all the coaching changes in CONCACAF this year.
Potential replacements for Keegan quickly dropped out of contention.
The tabloid Mirror ran photos of nine coaches, each with the word ôNoö written underneath.
French coach Arsene Wenger was considered one of the top candidates to succeed Keegan, but his boss, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood, wasnÆt worried about losing him.
ôHe would be crazy to take it,ö said Hill-Wood. ôAnd Arsene Wenger is not crazy.ö
The next time you apply for a job, remember that the job description doesnÆt always tell the whole story.