| 2010 South Africa FIFA World Cup is fast approaching. | | | | Parreira coaching the hosts South Africa. Bob Bradley |
| Football fans all over the world are no doubt looking | | | | is 52 years old and have been coaching soccer since |
| forward to the big event that only comes about once | | | | 1981, almost 30 years. Which also means that he |
| every four years. This summer, from 11 June to the | | | | started coaching when he was 22. His first post was |
| final in July, the world will be taken by storm with 32 | | | | Ohio University. After coaching at the university level |
| teams competing and billions watching. 2010 FIFA | | | | until 1997, he started his Major League Soccer career. |
| World Cup is the first ever World Cup Tournament | | | | Until 2006, when he took over as the coach of the |
| that will take place in Africa. The continent will host the | | | | United States, he had successful seasons with |
| World Cup and will take center stage for a month. So | | | | Chicago Fire, Metro Stars and Chivas USA. Bradley |
| will the 32 teams who will be competing there to win | | | | was only named as the interim coach to be the future |
| the world cup and declare themselves the ruler of the | | | | national manager perhaps for the 2014 finals. When |
| soccer world. | | | | the first candidate, Jurgen Klinsmann talks fell through |
| Football is played on the pitch for 90 minutes but never | | | | he was named as the interim coach. Although many |
| starts or ends there. The preparations takes months | | | | saw Bradley as a second choice, he quickly went |
| and forming a good, functioning and effective team | | | | about building a strong foundation for the team, |
| does not only depend on players but the also on the | | | | introducing younger players to the squad and |
| coach managing the team. The effect of the coaches | | | | approaching the job as though he already was, or |
| on the team and the game is usually a curious | | | | would soon become, the permanent manager. |
| discussion point. Some say that the game is played on | | | | In 2009, Bradley led the U.S. team to a 2nd place finish |
| the pitch and the coach effect is never more than ten | | | | in the 2009 Confederations Cup, including a 2-0 victory |
| percent. Others argue that the coach and his tactics | | | | over the world's number one ranked team and |
| are the maker or the breaker for the team. This will be | | | | European champions Spain, ending their 35 game |
| a never resolving issue. What is true however is that | | | | unbeaten streak and 15 game winning streak. |
| the coaches are the first to blame whenever there is | | | | The second coach at the world cup who is not an ex |
| failure. | | | | football player is Carlos Alberto Parreira. Parreira was |
| There are 32 countries participating in the world cup | | | | born in 1943 and started his coaching career when he |
| and they will go to South Africa after many | | | | was 24. He was only 25 years old when he took |
| qualification games that they have played to eliminate | | | | charge of the Ghana team. He managed many teams |
| the rest of the world to reach the finals. Each country | | | | since then and actually participated in 5 World Cups so |
| made their best effort to come to South Africa and | | | | far. In 1982, he coached Kuwait and lost two games |
| when starting the campaign for qualifications, they | | | | and drew 1-1 with Checkoslovakia. In 1990, he was |
| chose the best coach they think is fit for the job. | | | | leading United Arab Emirates and lost all three games. |
| When you look at the list of coaches of the teams | | | | Four years later, he was holding up the world cup |
| attending the tournament this summer, there is a | | | | proudly with Brazil. 1998 saw Parreira coaching Saudi |
| striking domination of ex football players who are now | | | | Arabia without any notable success. At the last World |
| in charge of the teams. Of the 32 teams, 30 coaches | | | | Cup in 2006, he was back in charge of Brazil but could |
| have actually played professional football in their day. | | | | not put its mark to the tournament. Brazil lost to France |
| There are of course more famous ones like Diego | | | | and could not reach the final of the tournament. |
| Maradona, the Argentinian coach, or Carlos Dunga, the | | | | Now, Parreira is back with South Africa, the hosts. |
| Brazilian. There are also less known or local ones like | | | | They are playing a fluent game and no doubt they will |
| the Honduras coach Rueda or Ricki Herbert the New | | | | be raising some eyebrows when June comes. Both |
| Zealand coach. But they all kicked the ball in the | | | | Parreira and Bradley did not play football professionally |
| professional sense. The question that comes to mind is | | | | but both are successful coaches and have impressive |
| 'Do you have to be an ex player to be a good coach?' | | | | careers and much more to promise. We will see and |
| or rather 'Are all players also good coaches?' Looking | | | | follow them both to find out their performance agains |
| at the list of coaches of the 32 teams, you have to | | | | the other 30 coaches, all ex football players. The world |
| say yes. | | | | cup is the scene to decide on the discussion point, we |
| However, let's look at the 2 coaches that have always | | | | will know if you really need to be a football player to |
| been coaches and not ex players. Namely, the United | | | | be a top coach. |
| States coach Bob Bradley and Brazilian Carlos Alberto | | | | |