Stephen and the Media

FourFourTwo

England's only FIFA Instructor
in January (issue 77),

Four Four Two highlighted the plight of Stephen Constantine. Despite being more highly qualified than most English League managers, the Londoner simply could not get a job in this country, and was forced to look abroad. Constantine is now coming towards the end of a successful tow year spell to find out what he plans to do next.

"My contract expires in June and the Nepal FA have already asked me to stay on for another five years," he told us. "But I think it's time to do something else. they've always said to me, 'You've done great for us, but if anything comes up we won't stand in your way.'"

Some interesting opportunities are already opening up. Constantine was recently invited to become a FIFA instructor. At 38 years old, he is now the youngest instructor on the list and the only Englishman. When we spoke to him to him he had just completed an intensive four-day course in Zurich. 

"French coach Roger Lemerre was among the speakers talking to us about different concepts of man-management. They were also preaching the FIFA gospel - for example, there was a seminar on what it takes to stage a World Cup. We have to know everything!

"FIFA instructors are supposed to be some of the world's top coaches - we're employed to coach the coaches around the world. I don't consider myself to be at the level of some of the people on the list, but at least I'm on the right track."

Scotland manger Craig Brown was also on the course, illustrating Constantine's point about quality. Brown considers Constantine's appointment as a FIFA instructor at such a young age to be an "amazing accomplishment".

"It's good to talk to people who've done it for 20, 30 years," says Constantine. "I'd met Craig before and he asked me how I've been getting on. I said I hadn't had much luck and he told me to put him down as a reference. He explained that he know what I'm going through, because when he started he was a nobody too and he needed somebody to help him."

With a glowing reference from Craig Brown and a "FIFA instructor" caption to add to his CV, it surely can't be long before English League Chairmen take notice. For the moment, thought, Constantine will fit his new role around his Nepal job, with World Cup qualifiers on the way.

"I could get a call any time asking me to coach the coaches in Mozambique or West China...you never know, they might even send me to England!"

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