FA Coaching Badges Are More Than Twice The Cost Of Spanish Equivalent As Questions Raised Over English Talent Pool

The eye-watering cost of FA coaching badges compared to those in Europe may explain the lack of top-level English coaches in world football.

With the announcement of Thomas Tuchel as the next England manager, many have expressed concerns at the Three Lions being led by a foreign coach.

While some have argued that Tuchel’s nationality is irrelevant so long as he’s the best man for the job, others have pointed out the severely limited quantity of English coaches at the top of the game.

No English manager has won a major trophy in England since Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth lifted the FA Cup in 2008.

And the last Englishman to win the English top flight as a manager was 32 years ago. Not since Howard Wilkinson guided Leeds United to the title in 1991/92 has a homegrown manager won the league, and never in the Premier League era.

There is clearly no lack of top-level English playing talent, but at a managerial level, we have been dominated by coaches from the continent for the past three decades.

At present, there are three English managers in the Premier League – four if you count English-born former Scotland international Russell Martin at Southampton.

Five Spaniards are in charge of Premier League clubs, including those coaching three of last year’s top four sides in Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery.

So why are there so many more top-level Spanish coaches than English?

FA Coaching Badges Cost More Than Double Those In Spain

The price of earning your coaching badges could be a massive factor.

Former Nottingham Forest and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore argued as such on Twitter (now X).

He posted his views on why England isn’t producing as many coaches of Thomas Tuchel’s standard.

Collymore said: “[It costs] £13,700 to do your Pro licence in England, today. In Spain, it’s around €5000.

“There are 2200 Spanish pro licence coaches. There are 200 English pro licence coaches. Look at the correlation between cost and coaching number.”

Others have echoed Collymore’s sentiments, too.

Tuchel for England, the lack of English coach deemed good enough needs to force The FA to look at the cost of coaching badges in this country. Intro to Coaching is £100 but the escalation from that point is ridiculous, UEFA C £650, UEFA B £1,200, UEFA A £4,000, UEFA Pro £13,700!!

— Pearcyy (@pearcyyy) October 15, 2024

Fast-Track Jobs For Ex-Pros Harming English Pathway

And Collymore wasn’t done there. He also pointed out that former Premier League stars like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney all took high-level jobs shortly after retirement instead of working their way up the same way many coaches overseas do.

He added: “Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney all took jobs instead of doing 3 years at SGP. Why? Gerrard got £2.5m at Rangers, Lampard £1m Derby, Rooney $1m Washington.

“Fuentes, Spanish head coach coached Sevilla and Bilbao youth on around €30k then Alaves first team where he lasted 6 months on around €100k before being sacked (for those who thought Southgate Boro CV wasn’t up to scratch).

“So English coaches have to pay 10 times more than European compatriots to get the same qualification, and English players don’t give SGP an identity because they never get there, they go straight to jobs where their fame gets them inflated salary and deal.

Limited Availability Of FA Coaching Badges Compared To Spain

Another key factor in the low number of elite-level English coaches is the lack of spaces on FA courses.

As well as the cost, many are put off by the difficulty of getting onto a course at all.

Even those who can afford the earn all their badges may not bother if they have to wait years to get a place.

Cost was a factor for me, but Spain´s system for educating coaches is much broader than other places. But the compeition is much higher here, Spain has over 11,000 Uefa level coaches, last time I saw the stats, UK had arouns 2-3K.

— Kris O'Hare (@KrisOhare26) October 17, 2024

While the route into coaching is easier for ex-pros, many of the best managers in world football were not elite-level players.

Jose Mourinho spent his playing career in the lower divisions of Portugal, while new England boss Thomas Tuchel never played a top-flight game in Germany.

If the FA wants more high-level English coaches, there clearly needs to be a change in attitude and accessibility to courses.