Soccer: Arsene Wenger has revealed he turned down the chance to manage England as he reiterated his belief that a home-grown coach should succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup. The Frenchman feels national teams ideally ought to be coached by someone from their country.
His views differ from those of Dave Richards, a member of the three-man committee preparing a short list for the England job, who wants a Brit - not necessarily an Englishman - to take over from Eriksson. Wenger declined to leave Arsenal for England in 2000, before Eriksson - a Swede - replaced Kevin Keegan.
"I was asked to take the job at some stage," Wenger said, "and I always said the same, a national team for me is not purely football level. People identify with national culture, national pride, national team, and it is all linked. It is easier to be accepted when you are from the country than if you are foreign."
Wenger expects Arsenal to play Real Madrid on February 21st without three of their first-choice back four after effectively ruling out Ashley Cole.
Sol Campbell and Lauren will definitely be absent and the manager said Cole had only a "very, very little" chance of being ready after a thigh injury. "He has been out for four months and to go into that kind of intensity will be very difficult," Wenger said.
More significant for Arsenal are matches at home to Bolton today and at Liverpool on Tuesday in the push for a top-four spot. Wenger has offered Jens Lehmann a contract for next season and expects the goalkeeper to stay. "We are not far (from an agreement)," he said.
Guardian Service
