In an age where football is at its most cosmopolitan, why are British players staying at home?

Football Food For Thought / Paul Moon / 27 June 2008 / Leave a Comment

Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo looks back at how successful the likes of Beckham, McManaman, Rush and Keegan were when they moved abroad and wonders why it just doesn't happen anymore.

Why are British footballers opting to stay home when players from virtually every other nationality move abroad in search of new challenges, big pay-days and the chance to live in another country? The answer is unattractive.

The increasing ethnic mixture in British society means it is difficult to define what makes someone British. This overtly democratic land embraces tolerance, diversity, the rule of law with a sense of fair play and this has been designated as typically British traits. But I would add reserved, detached and insular to that list.

Although we should not generalise, my life's experiences have proved that though most people have multiple identities, there are national characteristics that reveal themselves continuously. Unfortunately these are not always ones that we can be proud of.

So what has this got to do with football? Quite a lot actually! The reason why our footballers do not transfer abroad is three fold. A contemptible refusal to learn a language, the outright negativity regarding other cultures and lifestyles, and the inability to adapt.

Ian Rush, a Liverpool legend, epitomised this scenario. A brilliant player at the height of his great career he went to Juventus. He never bothered learning the language and confessed that he struggled to integrate himself in the dressing room and to adapt to the Italian style of play. What in blazes did he expect, the Juve boys to talk scouse? He is widely quoted as saying 'I couldn't settle in Italy - it was like living in a foreign country'. The mind boggles.

I think it is a disgrace that so many British people simply refuse to learn another language. Everybody should be bilingual at least (I speak Spanish, a little French and I am learning Welsh). That said visions of Wayne Rooney wearing a beret speaking French amuse me greatly (sorry for the stereotyping).

In the past, British culture distinguished itself by being innovative and groundbreaking but Globalisation and lethargy have caught up with us. We buy German cars, drink French wine, regularly eat Indian and Chinese food, sit on Swedish furniture, watch American movies but refuse to embrace European ideas. The most British thing of all is suspicion of anything foreign. Why is that, what are we afraid of?

Iconic David Beckham, despite his detractors, has shown gumption and embraced things outside the British box. He is our finest travelling ambassador and success story. The speed in which he learnt Spanish is admirable and he appreciates the value of this and promises to pass it on to his children. Despite a couple of problems along the way, his spell at Real Madrid was a successful one and he helped Real Madrid win La Liga in 2006/2007.

The excellent McManaman was a real success at Real Madrid under Guus Hiddink and Vincente Del Bosque prior to the Galacticos revenue and marketing generation. He is our second most successful export!

Lineker accomplished much at Barcelona. To his credit he learnt Spanish and some Japanese, this helped him with his career post football as a sports broadcaster. He would have achieved much more but for the acutely bizarre Cryuff (who decided to play non-tackling, non-heading, non-contact man Lineker in midfield).

Keegan (European Footballer of the Year - twice) did reasonably well at Hamburg though I never forgave him regarding his sulky and petulant attitude to Nottingham Forest who deservedly beat his team in the 1980 European Cup Final. His committed physical efforts were acknowledged more than his football skills.

Battering ram Mark Hateley had moderate success in Italy and France. His style was at odds with the way both those teams played so I was never sure why he was signed in the first place. David Platt had a bit more success when going to Italy playing for Bari, Juventus and Sampdoria. History has already forgotten their contribution.

Britain is a nation of immigrants and we are a mongrel race. Not true - we are the opposite, we are one of the most racially homogeneous nations on earth and I am certain this contributes to our dogmatic doctrinaire. With our island mentality we have become ignorant and secular, losing our spirit of adventure...