Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has come out in support of England's controversial decision to appoint German coach Thomas Tuchel as Gareth Southgate's permanent successor.
Tuchel will become the third overseas manager of the England men's national team, following on from Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. England women's manager, Sarina Wiegman, is Dutch and some of the the nation's other major sports teams - including cricket and rugby union - have a recent history of appointing foreign coaches, but Tuchel's arrival has divided opinion.
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both criticised the decision, while Premier League managers Steve Cooper and Sean Dyche questioned the message this sent to upcoming English coaches. Tuchel felt compelled to apologise for having a German passport and asked for "a fair chance" in his introductory press conference.
Arteta offered an alternative view. "I understand opinions and the feelings but that's a responsibility for the FA to say that the first filter is only English managers, or whether it's any manager from any country, and to select the best in the moment that we are in right now," Arsenal's Spanish coach reasoned ahead of his side's trip to Bournemouth on the weekend.
"I understand that it can feel sad for some people not to have an English manager, and the history tells you how important this could be, but I think I would take a lot of pride that a lot of managers will do anything to become the England manager.
"That's related to how we are treated in this country, how much we love the passion, the respect, the history and the way things are done here. I can say personally, you feel so related to where you are, even if you are not from here and I think that's a huge thing."
Despite enjoying an impressive playing career in the Premier League for Everton and Arsenal, Arteta was never awarded a single senior cap for the Spanish national team. Back in 2010, England's Italian coach at the time, Fabio Capello, tried to recruit Arteta for the Three Lions, as he would have qualified as an English citizen after living in the country for five unbroken years.
Arteta revealed on Friday that he "would have done it". "I feel very proud about it," the Basque coach reflected. "In the end, it didn't happen. But it was good, at least to think about it."
The Arsenal boss' appreciation for his adopted nation has not diminished. "I'll tell you right now, the feeling I have, this is like home," he said. "I've been here 22 years and I have that feeling towards it because I always feel respected, welcomed and inspired by this country, by the legacy and the history of football and how you get treated daily."
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