heroes of the dugout

The astute figures in the dugout who thrive to make the players’ efforts count — the coaches — are set to play crucial roles in Russia this summer. PIONEER SPORTS takes a look at the best of the lot

brazilian pride

Tite (brazil)

AGE: 56 years

FORMER TEAMS: Gremio, Corinthians, Al Ain FC

honours: Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A: 2011, ‘15 (Corinthians); Copa Libertadores de America 2012 (Corinthians); FIFA Club World Cup 2012 (Corinthians)

Tite (pronounced ‘Cheechee’)  — as peculiar as the name may sound, it has eventually become popular in Brazil. Even more so after the 56-year old took up the job as Brazil’s head coach in June 2016. He has since revitalised the canary-yellow-clad Selecao much to the relief of the nation’s football-minded folks who are in no way a population that can be branded as ‘easy to please’. The Brazilians are the kind of people who will rue even a World Cup win if it is not done their way — the Brazilian way, that is, with all its beauty and the element of joga bonito at the heart of the entire affair. But Tite — or Adenor Bacchi, as he would more formally be called — seems to have won over his compatriots’ hearts, which means that he has made a good show of his canary brigade and has indeed done alright. First, he seems to have solved Brazil’s over-dependence on Neymar — something that had gradually become a disconcerting virtue for the  side under Carlos Dunga, Tite’s predecessor who, it is said, is still trying to save face after Brazil — sans Neymar — were flung out of the World Cup in their own backyard by Joachim Loew’s Germany. A national shame back then in 2014, Tite’s methodology, as it appears, has sent the hurtful memory of the humiliating 7-1 loss to the far off lands of oblivion. The men in canary have now once again started to look up and cast glances towards the coveted golden head of the World Cup trophy, and it’s Tite who is pointing it out to them. The former Corinthians gaffer has assembled a group astir with vibrant talent under the principles of unity and creative flair. His men look organised and it would be no surprise if a majority of them  unleash their most fearsome forms during this summer in Russia. This organised creativity, this systemised vibrance that has come to define Brazil under the tutelage of Tite might just prove to be the driving force at the heart of a side that looks to add a sixth World Cup title to their trophy cabinet. The rout by the Germans four years ago had been the scarlet letter for a nation that breathes football — a mark of shame that bemoaned the apparent downfall of the Canarinha. But this summer, Brazil seem to be smiling again.

spanish custodian

JULEN LOPETEGUI (SPAIN)

AGE: 51 years; FORMER TEAMS: FC Porto, Real Madrid B

honours: UEFA U-19 & U-21 Euro Championships 2012, ‘13

As a player, Lopetegui appeared in the Spanish Primera Division (La Liga) as a goalkeeper across eleven seasons for Castilla, Las Palmas, Logrones and Rayo Vallecano besides partaking in a single game for Real Madrid and in five games for FC Barcelona. Starting his managerial career in 2003 with Rayo Vallecano, Lopetegui went through a topsy-turvy phase which included a sacking after just ten matches of his initial season as head coach and a sports commentator's job, after which he took back coaching which saw him lead the Spanish U-19 and U-21 sides to European glory in 2012 and '13 respectively before eventually landing up with La Roja in ‘16. Here, at the top level, Lopetegui has been the custodian in the Spanish dugout, a guardian of the Seleccion's legacy which was written during the summer of 2010. He took up the reins at a time when successive failures in two major tournaments had got all of Spain quite disgruntled over their predicament. And even as the Spanish media shifted uncomfortably on their seats, Lopetegui restored the natural order within the team. Spain are now on an unbeaten streak of 19 games since the former keeper of goals took over. It happens to be their second best run after Luis Aragones' side went without a loss through 25 fixtures in 2006. But that is secondary. The best news is that Spain look like their old self again.

german speedster

Joachim Loew (GERMANY)

AGE: 58 years; FORMER TEAMS: VfB Stuttgart, Fenerbahce

HONOURS: FIFA World Cup 2014; FIFA Confederations Cup 2017; German Football Manager of the Year 2014; FIFA World Coach of the Year 2014; World Soccer Awards Manager of the Year 2014; IFFHS World’s Best National Coach 2014, 2017; European Coach of the Year 2014

Back in 2014, Joachim Loew lost his driver's license for six months on account of reckless driving, which included overspeeding and operating the phone behind the wheel. The same year, Loew won the World Cup in Brazil and the way he drove the German national team to glory might not be reckless at all, but it did have that element of speeding that makes other drivers gasp in horror and struggle to avoid the incoming speedster. Moreover, with the methodology he implemented within Die Mannschaft won him the FIFA World Coach of the Year 2014. That, and three years later a FIFA Confederations Cup title  with a sprouting legion of young Germans battling against line-ups boasting of a greater experience; throw in a UEFA European Championship runner-up's medal from 2008 and a couple of semi-final finishes in the same tournament for two successive years in 2012 and 2016 and you have a set of honours that duly combine to make Loew’s Germany one of the most consistent teams in football history. The defending World Champions' 58-year old gaffer has worked with his lads right from the goalkeeper at the back to the ultimate target man up front. The German machine — with its swift transition from 4-2-3-1 in defence to a 2-4-3-1 in attack — will once again instill dread among the opponents’ ranks on the field and their bosses in the dugout as Loew’s men arrive, adamant in their will to not give away their precious crown.

super & strange

JOSE PEKERMAN (COLOMBIA)

AGE: 68 years

FORMER TEAMS: Argentina U-20, Argentina

HONOURS: FIFA U-20 World Cup 1995, ‘97, 2005 (Argentina U-20)

“Overpriced Argentine,” was one of the best known denominations that were bestowed upon Jose Pekerman when he agreed to take the boss’ job for the Colombian national team back in 2012. Two years later, the South American nation was hailing Pekerman for putting Colombia back amongst the game’s big boys as Los Cafeteros put up their best performance till date at the World Cup in Brazil, attaining a last-eight finish. At times criticised for his choices regarding certain lineups, Pekerman has been instrumental in giving the Colombian population a sense of revitalisation, which people have touted as the renewal of the nation’s golden generation of the 1990s. With his strange ways of operating, which include wild and baffling changes even in successful strategies and lineups, Pekerman can either dominate against an opponent with an element of unpredictability or simply fall out, much to the collective annoyance of his fans.

the devils’ boss

ROBERTO MARTINEZ (BELGIUM)

AGE: 44 years

FORMER TEAMS: Swansea, Wigan Athletic, Everton

Honours: FA Cup 2012-13 (Wigan); Premier League Manager of the Month for April 2012; LMA FA Cup Manager of the Year 2013

“Under Martinez, I have only put in good performances.” These were the words of Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku when he was quizzed on Les Diables Rouges’ new boss, Roberto Martinez. The 25-year old striker then went on to suggest that he could say the same about a lot of other players in the national team — including Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne among others. For a coach, who at Everton was generally on the receiving end of  much criticism, a positive remark from his present team’s prime goal-getter is the ultimate ode that sums up the amount of work that Martinex has put up there and with him in the Belgian dugout and a variety of talent on the field, Belgium have been dubbed as one of the most promising sides for this summer in Russia.