Scots should look abroad for new man, says Vogts
Perhaps a foreign manager, with different ideas, could be the answer – Berti
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Berti Vogts believes it is time the SFA again looked abroad for a manager to replace George Burley.
The veteran German coach remains to date the only foreigner to have managed the Scotland football team.
Despite his abysmal Scotland record, Vogts still defends his regime – pointing to the fact that he is the last man to lead Scotland to a major finals play-off.
In the process, Vogts blooded the likes of James McFadden and Darren Fletcher.
He still believes youth is the only way forward for Scotland and has called for a radical rethink of the SFA’s youth development system.
He is also convinced that searching overseas for a new manager with fresh ideas, from grass roots up, could provide the answer.
Vogts said: “Burley is a decent manager, but the problem is he has been afraid to put his faith in the young players.
“There is a lot of pressure being the Scotland manager because people still think you should be playing at the World Cup finals.
“The media and the public must realise you have to earn the right to play at the biggest tournaments. It’s not easy and history doesn’t count for anything.
“Perhaps a foreign manager, with different ideas, could be the answer. The Republic of Ireland, for example, have benefited from the experience and the qualities of Giovanni Trapattoni. But the truth is, Scottish players aren’t good enough any more. The young players have been neglected by the football authorities and by the big clubs, who haven’t done enough.
“Being a small country is no excuse. Look at Holland or Switzerland. The Swiss just won the under-17 World Cup. They care about their future and they invest in it.
“Youth is the only way ahead for Scotland. The fact is that many of the older players just aren’t good enough. Scotland needs a totally new youth programme to bring through talented players.
“The people in charge are not committing enough to the future of the game.”
Vogts recently signed a new two-year extension to his contract with Azerbaijan.
The 1974 World Cup winner was only too aware of Scotland’s under-21 victory in Baku at the weekend. But he insists that was partly the result of him calling-up the pick of his youth side into the full national team.
Vogts added: “I am in Azerbaijan now. Scotland’s under-21s beat our team 4-0 but that was partly because I called up 10 players from our under-21 side in my full national team.
“But it does show Scotland are still doing well at youth level. So why not give more of the young players a chance?”
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