– Hege Riise became England interim manager almost by accident but her unplanned interregnum could prove precisely what a team that had lost their way under Phil Neville need.
The former midfielder was one of the finest players of her generation, winning 188 caps for Norway in an era when they were an international force, but she disguises her ego so successfully that on Tuesday one journalist inquired if she actually possessed one.
As she addressed the English media for the first time since succeeding Neville a polite, considered and rather understated 51-year-old set to remain in post until Sarina Wiegman takes long-term charge in September looked a little puzzled by that inquiry.
To English ears it was a logical question. Riise – whose first game is at home to Northern Ireland on 23 February – had originally applied to be Neville’s assistant when his No 2 Rehanne Skinner left for Tottenham in November and instead ended up with the top job when the former Manchester United full-back defected to David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
In truth, someone who won so many domestic honours as a club manager in Norway – she was nominated as coach of the year and who served as Pia Sundhage’s No 2 during the Swede’s tenure in charge of the United States – seemed a bit over-qualified to be Neville’s sidekick.
Riise, though, is not the type of manager who feels a need to dominate every room they enter and simply coveted the challenge of working with talent of the calibre of Lucy Bronze and “maybe making a great player a little bit better”. She also thought the job would be “fun” after being tipped off about the impending vacancy by her friend Dawn Scott, the former US fitness coach now performing the same role with England.
It represents a refreshingly low-key approach. Not to mention a marked contrast to the “I have a vision that no one else has” and “I’ve got a bravery that no other coach has probably had” posturing of Neville’s reign.
That tenure began with England third in the world and, although its early stages encompassed some real highs, it ended with the Lionesses down to sixth in the international pecking order and having lost seven of their last 11 games.
Riise demurred when asked whether the problem related to a lack of quality and, reflecting on her time with the US, brought up the game’s most important C word. “I think confidence is a big difference with the US team,” she said. “Knowing the US mentality they are strong, competitive, eager to win and their team is connected. The confidence and belief they will win is so strong. That’s something we’re trying to work on with this group. We have to believe we can dictate every game and the team has to be connected. We want them to enjoy stepping on to the field for England and not to be anxious.”
Evidently a subscriber to the Leeds United “side before self every time” mantra, Riise is conscious she is serving as a pioneer for the next generation of female coaches. “My thought when I got this job was that this was something I need to do to help other female coaches be able to move around the world and do the job they love.”
She would become an even greater role model if the Football Association placed her in charge of the GB squad competing at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. Riise has been told she will travel as either manager or assistant and, characteristically, she is unfazed by the uncertainty. “I’m comfortable,” she said. “We’ll have a good conversation and settle it after the February camp.”
For the moment a coach hampered by the need to work within Covid-19 restrictions is talking virtually to members of the England team’s leadership group, including the captain, Steph Houghton, Bronze and Jordan Nobbs, while presiding over a changing of the national guard.
Although Jill Scott is set to win her 150th cap against Northern Ireland several stalwarts of England’s runs to the semi-finals of three major tournaments under Mark Sampson and Neville have failed to make the cut.
Indeed it is hard to envisage Jodie Taylor, Carly Telford, Karen Bardsley and Toni Duggan returning to the international fold as Riise begins introducing some of the brightest emerging young talents in the Women’s Super League, with the uncapped Ella Toone, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Hannah Hampton and Sandy MacIver named for this month’s camp.
“I believe the talent in this squad is amazing,” said Riise, after revealing that Beth Mead had been dropped because “the player report wasn’t that great”.
Although the Norwegian’s English is fluent that flash of rather brutal candour may have been amplified in translation – but it could equally have been a deliberate message to the Arsenal forward.
“I’ve watched a lot of England matches – and a lot in the WSL,” said a coach who does not seem the type to neglect her homework.
After Neville’s “broad brushstroke” managerial style, Riise’s “devil in the detail” approach promises to serve England well.
from Football | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3a2e5bw
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