players and languages

[Ferdinand Cesarano]

During the past few weeks, there have been two stories involving the languages that players speak:

* the Josemi-Kromkamp swap, which was due, in part, to the Josemi’s difficulties with English and Kromkamp’s with Spanish

* Harry Redknapp's complaints about players who cannot speak English, occasioned by an incident in which one of his Portsmouth players, Viafara, did not follow the manager's instructions upon entering a match because he did not understand them

What I found surprising is that these teams evidently do not employ interpreters, despite functioning in a worldwide market for players. Redknapp's frustration at being unable to communicate with some of his squad is understandable; yet surely his ire should be directed not towards the players but towards the club for failing to provide adequate support.

Also interesting was the mention by the bilingual Benitez that he conducts his practices and meetings exclusively in English, despite the many Spaniards on the squad. (Contrast this with Chelsea under the non-English-speaking Ranieri, who needed players to translate his instructions into English; or with exclusively-English-speaking Bobby Robson at Lisbon and Porto, where a young Mourinho worked as his Portuguese interpreter.)

This seems to highlight a key advantage that a multilingual manager would have over one who speaks only English (or one who, like Benitez, is bilingual but uses only English as a matter of policy): the greater likelihood that the linguistically-dextrous manager will be able to issue in-game instructions to a given player in his dominant language. (Are we to believe that Benitez, if placed in Redknapp’s shoes in the Viafara situation, really would have insisted on giving instructions in English to a Spanish-speaking player? Interesting/bizarre if true.)

So, I am wondering whether the situation that 'Arry faced represents the norm in the Premiership, or whether the other teams with monoglot coaches have interpreters on staff and/or on call. To have interpreters would seem to be a minimal expense in return for a great benefit.

Au, ech pli bone, parolu chiuj Esperanton!

(Or, even better, have everyone speak Esperanto!)

[sinner78]

Redknapp is a clown who is looking for ready made excuses when he leads another team to relegation .He is just the type of guy who tends to spout off in in the press. I guess is trying to create the impression that the previous manager has created a mess that he cant possibly fix .

[King-James]

I was a bit suprised at first that there actually are players that don't speak the language of the club in football. It seemed so pointless... why have a player if you cannot even communicate? Do they just point at the part of the pitch that they want said player to play at? :rolleyes:

[chrizzah]

It's funny you mention Bobby Robson because I seem to remember an interview in which he said that his policy was to insist that players speak only the native language (even in Holand and Portugal). His rationale was that letting any language fly at practice created cliques in the team and you end up with a disjointed team. It does seem as though you sometimes come accross high-profile players who don't really learn the native language. Cristano Ronaldo comes to mind. I've never seen him speak a word of English (although perhaps this is a confidence thing when on camera).

[Pazarius]

* the Josemi-Kromkamp swap, which was due, in part, to the Josemi’s difficulties with English and Kromkamp’s with Spanish

* Harry Redknapp's complaints about players who cannot speak English, occasioned by an incident in which one of his Portsmouth players, Viafara, did not follow the manager's instructions upon entering a match because he did not understand them

What I found surprising is that these teams evidently do not employ interpreters, despite functioning in a worldwide market for players. Redknapp's frustration at being unable to communicate with some of his squad is understandable; yet surely his ire should be directed not towards the players but towards the club for failing to provide adequate support.

Clubs do employ interpreters, and have for some time. They are very useful in some circumstances but a liability in others. Team spirit is crucial in football, and you can't make friends or join in with the changing room banter through an interpreter. It's always far better to have your team all speaking the same language.

Redknapp probably expected that all his players would, by this point in the season, at least be able to understand simple instructions in English. I don't think he would consider having interpreters by the touchline to translate every command to be an acceptable solution; he wants to communicate directly, at the very least where football is concerned.

[musicl]

If Ronaldhinho played for Liverpool i bet cha Benitez wouldnt be thinking of selling because in parthe didnt speck English.