Interesting story over at the British Daily Telegraph regarding Chelsea’s mini-renaissance under the part-time stewardship of Guus Hiddink, which will resonate with anyone who was privy to his handling of the Australia team in 2005 and 2006
Hiddink denounced his predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari as presiding over a “lax regime” at Stamford Bridge and has accordingly instituted tough new rules for players. As the Telegraph writes: “[This] involves players being punctual for training, increased fitness regimes, restrictions on mobile-phone usage on club grounds as well as fines for any of the aforementioned regulations being broken.
“He has also clamped down on the players’ images, insisting that the club’s Armani suits be worn when travelling for home or away games and when leaving stadiums after matches.
“Hiddink, who is never seen on the sideline out of a suit, has also made specific reference to how the players should knot their ties.”
The “Hiddink effect” seems to be working. Back in fourth place just weeks ago, Chelsea are now in second position and challenging hard for the title, just as Hiddink said they would.
As I write in my 2007 book 15 Days in June, I sat behind Hiddink at the Australia Vs Brazil match in Munich and spent most of my time taking photos of the big guy. The owner of a fascinating, character-filled face, Hiddink spent most of the match turned away from the action and lost in thought, his fingers cradling his chin, his brow furrowed. He also looked super sharp in a beautifully cut grey suit and had an undeniable aura about him – something which his players attested was part of what made him such a great coach. They wanted to impress him.
Even one Graham Arnold had some of the Hiddink effect rub off on him.
He too was wearing a grey suit that day and, amazingly, even to me looked managerial.
(It’s a shame when he got the big job himself he was not so preoccupied with sartorial concerns and more often opted for his usual clobber of tracksuit or polo top than the full get-up. Pim Verbeek, as we all know, follows the Hiddink suit-wearing trick to a tee, and it helps.)
Could Arnold’s rough-and-ready appearance explain some of his poor results and his fractured relationship with parts of the senior team?
It seems ridiculous but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.
I recall an instance of John Kosmina slouching and wearing shorts when he was assisting Arnold for the Asian Cup but to his credit the former Sydney FC coach wore a suit when he was on the sidelines in his A-League job. Only problem was you can put a guy in a suit but if he’s lacking class it’s going to show. Kosmina persisted with his habit of slouching in his seat. Kosmina lost the respect of his dressing-room and look at how Sydney’s season subsequently fell to pieces.
I wrote long ago about the importance of thrall in the make-up of any coach and, with Hiddink, a significant part of his thrall has to with image. It’s undeniable – and it would be something our own A-League coaches would do well to replicate.
Aurelio Vidmar consistently wears a suit but still looks cheap with shirt collars that double as an advertising hoarding. Frank Farina, another suit wearer, makes a decent effort but is usually to be found sans tie. Ricki Herbert and Lawrie McKinna seem undecided whether they prefer a suit or tracksuit. Tracksuit devotee Ernie Merrick, though hugely successful, looks like a bloke on his lunch break you might find drinking beer and pulling the one-armed bandits in a backroom at a local pub. Ditto David Mitchell and Gary van Egmond.
Hardly thrall getting.
The sharpest-looking A-League coach I can remember was Pierre Littbarski, who always looked immaculate when leading Sydney FC in “Version 1.0” and look what he went on to achieve.
His successor, Terry Butcher, who liked to wear a T-shirt, tracksuit pants, sneakers and baseball cap on match days, came a complete cropper.
It’s a left-field theory, and I’m sure there are exceptions that shoot holes in it, but I’m convinced a well-cut suit makes a huge difference when coaching a football team – as Hiddink, the master of image, continues to prove.
True Tah
Guest
Compare Steve McLaren with Fabio Capello in terms of guys with very differant dress senses.
Slippery Jim
Guest
A remarkably similarly themed article can be found here, by the unsurpassed Giles Smith. http://www.chelseafc.com/page/ColumnistsDetails/0,,10268~1560990,00.html
Greg
Guest
Can't believe you spent your time watching Guus rather than say, the Selecao, in Munich (or say, Harry) Jesse. The most composed Socceroo team I have ever seen play. Just goes to show Guus is a master coach. My recollection is Guus took his suit coat off in the pool match against Japan; it was a very hot day, I think he even rolled his sleeves up. Does that shoot a hole in your theory; or is there a hot weather exemption?
jimbo
Guest
To beat the Melbourne Mafia and Geoff Lord you need a Russian Crime Lord with a Checkmate and a Checkbook to match. :) Wait till we win all trophies this season and the FFA conspiracy theories come out of the woodwork again about how the referees and the judiciary helped SFC to a clean sweep.
jimbo
Guest
Its not the suit. Pimbo wears a suit and tie.
Midfielder
Guest
Das Why support the Smurfs.... they got a Russian crime boss spending on one of his toys... Guss AHHHHhhh one of if not the best coach in the world right now... I am also following Russia but as for the smurfs nay ... led by Grumpy Smurf (that's the Russian crime boss) and Papa Smurf that's KB in full support... Das see if you can find some Chelski guys on this site http://www.flixster.com/user/fb1197160443/quiz/name-the-smurf
dasilva
Roar Guru
I wonder is there anyone here who's supporting Chelsea now because of Guus Hiddink I'm one of those. I supported Russia during Euro and PSV during his reign with the socceroos and now hoping Chelski get the treble.
Midfielder
Guest
Cpaaa Eddie did look a million dollars in those suits ...KB brilliant youtube already posted on our football forum as the new maths test at Newcastle ... BTW thats 90% not 3/4 please and you forgot the singlets mainly white (stained) sometimes yellow and the real fashionable crowd in a black singlet with blue footy shorts and green thongs ....
Cpaaa
Guest
love this article, Jess you cover it all from politics to armani suits. on the Hiddink effect... i just want to say how fantastic it was to have such man be a part of Australian football history. even though for a short time we will always love him. on the suits... maybe ahead of his time, Coach Eddie Krncevic always dressed in a suit. sometimes really out there ones as well. oh the NSL, had soo much colour....
Koala Bear
Guest
If you portray the right image you inevitably command respect.... Unfortunately it didn't help Sven Goran Erickson he wore an Armani instead of a Lows.... Midfielder, I believe Laurie is going with the T-shirt, (I'm a 10 coastie) 3/4 shorts and thongs next season ... A big number on the Central Coast I believe.. :lol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d7XhIVx3YY ~~~~~~~~~ KB
StiflersMom
Guest
If you portray the right image you iInevitably command respect.
md
Guest
I think wearing a suit is pretty much a contractual term of managing SFC these days. No doubt that Pierre set the standard - particularly the brown corduroy number that he wore in a late season home-game; it was a suit that said "I'm so far ahead of all you f-ers, that you don't even know whether this is style or anti-style". Great psychology. Butcher's fashion, on the other hand, said "Where's my cup of tea gone? I know I put it down here somewhere. Oh look, a ladybird. Aren't ladybird's nice. I like ladybirds you know. I wonder what's on telly tonight?" Hopefully the Vitislav and Michal know a tailor in Prague... Cheers md P.S. - I suspect Guus wears a suit mostly because, to put it delecately, it flatters a fuller figure.
Midfielder
Guest
KB That link again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22fIsLwNy38 those little Smurfs are getting sneaky ... fancy them geeting the link wrong or changing my copy command.... BUT as we all know .... Same old Smurfs always cheating ....
Midfielder
Guest
KB It is a sad day.... even the mighty Gus cannot stop "another step to the right" .. sad because he will fail and the Red ones will march on over the Blue Smurfs....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22fIsLwNy38&feature=PlayList&p=0AC9D90A9CB8D52A&playnext=1&index=14 complete with a Russian dancing Bear LOL.
Midfielder
Guest
Guss ... is he the best coach in the world right now.. hard to argue with ... without doubt in the top 6.
Koala Bear
Guest
The "Special One" always wore an overcoat... The first couple of seasons for Chelsea were fantastic ... "Be Champions"... :lol: Although Hiddink is not doing too badly in a suit... ~~~~~~~~ KB
dasilva
Roar Guru
The manaer has to command respect of the team. the clothing is one aspect of many that contribute to hte respect. So yeah I agree that manager have to dress a bit formally compare to the players. However to be fair on Arnie, he was coaching in the Asia cup with heaps of humidity. I'm quite sure he didn't want to wear an expensive armani suit in that condition
cosmos forever
Guest
A suit also makes a distinction between the manager and players. A suit says "I am not one of you I am leading you. I do not want to play I want to manage". It's important. Too often managers who dress in the kit of the team come across as nothing more than players who never grew up.
Albert Ross
Guest
The Germans say "Clothes make the man and rags make mice." Mind you I have sympathy with Frank. I wouldn;t be wearing a tie sitting on the sidelines in the sun.
David V.
Guest
Blue has always been the colour of class- Everton used to be synonymous with class, and it's not the first time Chelsea have been a p owerhouse club on the field as they had been in the 60s and early 70s. Red can mean forces of evil (Man Utd, Liverpool) or good (Arsenal, Nottingham Forest).