Country of Birth v Country of Employment

March 31st, 2009 | by: chris |

It’s really not uncommon to find international teams being coached by a foreigner. In fact, it’s getting to the point where most countries will go the way of club football eventually and prefer a national, but have it make little difference in the eventual selection. And this brings up an interesting conundrum: what happens when facing your own country?

Marco Tardelli, known the world over for his tear-soaked celebration in World Cup 1982 (above), will deal with this tomorrow when the Italian national anthem is played at the San Nicola. As well as being an Italian legend, Marco is also a part of Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland staff. While he says he’ll respect his employers, Tardelli will also respect his country and whisper Fratelli d’Italia.

It’s a strange issue, isn’t it? On the one hand you want to respect your country above all else worldly, as so many have been taught since birth – and particularly for a man who has meant as much to his country’s sporting achievements as Tardelli.

But on the other hand, when you’re employed at the level of national team coach or assistant, one would expect your full commitment to the cause and singing the anthem of your opponent would seem to usher in a cloud of suspicion. We could say that it’s fairly easy to separate the two, but it’s not always that simple – neither for the employer nor the employee. If one must sing the anthem, must they always support their country in all cases? Yes, professionalism is nice but professionalism still refers to employment, and many things for many people are still placed higher on the shelf of values.

Does this make it a case-by-case basis? Where do one’s values stand? Is this just sport or does the playing of the anthem stand for something more? Should everyone just duck and cover during the anthem and hope for the best?

I know one thing – just thinking about this has sent my mind spinning into a whirlwind of confusion. I can only begin to understand how Marco feels.

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Maria

If he’s standing with his team on the pitch before the match starts, he shouldn’t be singing the national anthem of the country of his birth. If he’s in the stands as a spectator, he can sing any national anthem he wants.
http://atletico.theoffside.com Al

Mexico’s coach in the 2006 World Cup (he’s Argentinian) stood by an exit when Mexico played Argentina, and didn’t sing either anthem. I don’t remember what Sven did when Mexico played Sweden though.
Jose

Tricky situation. I think it comes down to how important it is for you to sing the anthem. Above all, your country is your country, so if you want, you should be able to sing the anthem. But if singing it is going to deflate some confidence in your colleagues and players, and make them second guess you, is it–practically–worth it?

Perhaps just standing respectfully is enough. Still, this comes down to personal choice. I wouldn’t begrudge a coach singing his country’s anthem.
Dustin

Guus Hiddink didn’t have any problems singing the anthem then dumping the Dutch out of the Euro’s. It’s a job. It’s your country. Singing doesn’t lose you the game. Not doing your job does.
Jonas

For me Marco can sing the italian anthem. I mean he’s Italian after all,and it’s his country of birth. After the anthem,it’s back to business and the game will be played where Marco and Trap will be Ireland fans.
I think anthems are just atmosphere creators for the fans and team and every native person should be allowed to sing it,when you’re in the stands or on the opponents bench. Respect that.
Football is a game,not Idols ;)
sandrahn

In response to a question from a reporter about managing England one day, Arsene Wenger came out 2 years ago and said he could never manage England (nor any other country) other than France because (paraphrasing) “Which anthem would I sing? I could not be there and not root for my national team.”