Ardiles says England need better youth policy

By Mike Collett

BROXBOURNE (Reuters) - As one of the first high-profile overseas footballers to play in England, Ossie Ardiles is in a unique position to comment on the difficulties now facing the English game.

England have real problems to overcome if they are ever to seriously challenge for the World Cup again, the Argentine says.

"I don't think it is a question of Fabio Capello waving a magic wand and making England great again. I don't think it matters if it is an English or a foreign manager in the job," 1978 World Cup winner Ardiles told Reuters in an interview.

"If he does a good job he is going to be loved, like Jack Charlton was in Ireland. It doesn't matter who the England manager is. I think the problems are much, much deeper than just changing the manager.

"The real problem is...the development of young players. Why are there not enough good English players, Under-23 Under-21, Under-19, whatever you want to call it?" said Ardiles, who has coached in England, Japan, the Middle East and South America since his glittering playing career ended.

"When was the last time England won a world championship at that level? If you check the records, probably not more than once or twice in the last 40 or 50 years.

"Do England players lack a football gene? Do they have a deficiency? I don't think so. So it must be in the development, it is obvious. For me that is the answer."

The influx of foreign players was not to blame, said Ardiles, who was back in England with former Tottenham Hotspur team mate Ricardo Villa.