Howard Wilkinson is a legendary figure at Leeds United and is also the last English manager to win the English top flight when the Whites won the old First Division title in 1991.
Since then, no other English manager has come close to winning the Premier League, and very few top clubs actually hire head coaches from England.
Even Leeds had to wait for an Argentinian in Marcelo Bielsa to return to the top flight, and now a German manager, Daniel Farke, is in charge of the Yorkshire giants.
The Premier League is probably the best league in the world because of its relentless nature. However, the lack of English coaches is a problem that Gary Neville has highlighted.
Gary Neville uses the Howard Wilkinson example to lament about English coaches
Liam Rosenior became the latest English manager to become a victim at a big club when Chelsea sacked him last week, ahead of the semi-final against Leeds.
Gary Neville has lamented that it is becoming increasingly hard for an English manager to succeed at any level of club in the Premier League at the moment.
He pointed out that it has been more than three decades since Wilkinson won the league with Leeds, and since then, there has been a dearth of English coaches.
He pointed at Eddie Howe for doing well, but conceded that is where the list ends when it comes to English coaches at a top job in the Premier League.
Neville said on the Overlap Fan Debate: “It’s very hard for an English manager to succeed in the Premier League.
“When was the last time? I mean, Howard Wilkinson won it for Leeds before the Premier League started.
“Has an English manager ever won the Premier League? No, Eddie Howe’s probably the one in recent times, Harry Redknapp obviously had success to a level, Frank Lampard a little bit, but there are very few English managers who have succeeded.”
The Premier League has become far too big for risks
The prize of being in the Premier League is too big, and the fear of being out of it is too huge for clubs to take risks on young English coaches.
Even promoted clubs are looking to bring in foreign coaches with experience rather than bet on a young English manager. Burnley did on Scott Parker, and they are now on their way back to the Championship.
To put it simply, the Premier League has become too big financially for clubs to take a risk on an unproven young English coach at the top level.
In previous years, Michael Carrick would have been confirmed as a permanent Manchester United manager after nine wins in 13. But there are still doubters at Old Trafford about his quality
Leeds are unlikely to look for a young English coach if they look to replace Daniel Farke in the foreseeable future.
Frank Lampard cannot afford to struggle next season or else Coventry City won’t think twice about replacing him, regardless of his achievements this year.
The Premier League is far too ruthless for young English coaches to learn their trade and thrive.
