Uwe Rosler was this week the latest former premiership player to begin his managerial career in the English football league, joining Brentford on a two year deal.
He is just one of a number of former foreign players, who have chosen to begin their managerial education in the lower leagues alongside the likes of Gus Poyet, Roberto Di Matteo, and Roberto Martinez.
All three have enjoyed success since starting out in the English game, Di Matteo guided West Brom to the Premier League, Martinez took Swansea into the Championship and Gus Poyet has transformed Brighton with his brand of attacking football.
So why do these former foreign stars see England as the ideal place to begin their careers? It may have something to with the fact that in this country we have arguably the strongest football league structure, for example are there many European nations that have teams in their second tier attracting attendances of over 25,000 week in week out?
Leeds United for example had an average attendance of over 27,000 during the 2010/11 season, Southampton in League One were attracting an average of 22,000 fans to St Marys which is astonishing for a third tier team.
The competitive nature of English football also makes it an attractive proposition, having played in the Premiership they have knowledge of how the game is played but also see it as the perfect opportunity to introduce some new ideas.
Teams such as Brighton and Swansea have seen the benefit of this and have developed a style of play that delivers success, with particular emphasis on the passing game and the focus is on the technical aspect of the game not just the physical.
Also there is clear evidence that if managers are successful in the lower leagues bigger clubs are prepared to give people a chance to show what they can do, West Brom for example were that impressed with Di Matteo’s efforts and ideas that after just 11 months with Mk Dons he was offered the position of Manager.
Poyet is a superb example of what can be achieved in the lower leagues, having served as assistant to Dennis Wise at both Swindon and Leeds, and to Juande Ramos at Tottenham he then took the chance to become manager at Brighton and Hove Albion.
In his first full season in charge he guided Albion to promotion and the League One title, and was one of selected group of managers to be named as the LMA Manager of the Year in his first season as the gaffer.
Both Martinez and Di Matteo began their careers in the football league and as a result of their success were given the chance to manage in the top tier of English football.
Martinez in particular has shown great promise having masterminded Wigan’s survival in the Premier League and was recently offered the chance to take the vacant managers position at Aston Villa, but chose to stay loyal to Dave Whelan, the man who gave him his break in English football.
Although Rosler does have previous managerial experience having spent time with Lillestrom, Viking Stavanger, and Molde in Norway he will certainly see England as a step up and will be well aware that if he is successful at Brentford it could be the start of a very promising career in the Football League.
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