Klinsi for England?

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to compare the possibility of former Germany coach -- and England nemesis -- Jürgen Klinsmann taking over as coach of the Three Lions to Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama becoming President of the United States of America. In all three hypothetical cases, the most pertinent question remains the same: is the country ready or is that really a step too far?

The possibility of the United States electing a woman or an African-American into the White House is divisive to say the least. The fact that Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama are even in the running at this very early stage of the presidential race says something about how attitudes, at least in some parts of the country, have changed in the US.

Most of their detractors focus on their policy stances and personality traits rather than their gender or racial background, which is encouraging for a nation that has for centuries tended to view the commander in chief's job as being reserved for white males only.

If only the same could be said for the opinions and attitudes of some of the England faithful when it comes to the possibility of Klinsmann leading England. Still, Klinsmann, who led Germany to third place in the 2006 World Cup and turned down a job offer from the US Soccer Federation, has hinted he might be interested in occupying the vacant England bench.

Klinsi the mold breaker

Klinsmann is one of a rare breed; a German who has endeared himself to the English soccer masses. His two spells as a Tottenham Hotspurs player in the 1990's are credited with rehabilitating the long-held image of conniving, arrogant and -- heaven forbid -- massively successful Germans which had been cultivated through decades of smug tournament victories and much-reveled-in conquests over England.

His self-referential diving celebration after scoring showed a humorous side to the Teutonic efficiency that had grated so much with England fans for so long while his contribution in making the Premiership the star-studded internationally renowned league it is now cannot be underestimated.

His coaching ability is also grudgingly respected on the island. In his short tenure, Klinsmann transformed Germany from a nation infamous for grinding out results to a team purring with flair which -- as long as that flair was not used to knock England out of any tournament -- was appreciated by those English who lamented the lack of invention in their own team.

The German it's okay to like

Klinsi is what is commonly known in those circles where such things matter as "an okay German" for his contribution to the Premiership and his philosophy of how the game should be played. It must, however, be said that Klinsmann only remains the good German while he is not responsible for any England heartbreak.

All that could change if he is made England coach.

The England job carries the most pressure of any managerial position in international soccer. The expectation among the fans is hysterically high and probably unachievable.

Despite going 41 years without a title since their only tournament success, fans always believe it is England's right to win. To keep these demanding supporters happy and lead England to victory is a hard task for any man, and even more so for a German.

Section of fans stuck in the past

Believe what you want about England's notorious fans being rehabilitated or locked-up out of harms way. The truth is there are still elements which sing "Ten German Bombers", chant along to the "Dambusters" theme and claim in song that Hitler was testicularly-challenged.

Animosity towards the Germans arising from World War II is sadly still alive in some less-enlightened quarters and the appointment of one who has been a hate-figure in his time as a player would certainly test how far the England faithful have come in their sensitivity training.

It is only six years ago that England got its first foreign coach. The uproar over appointing an unassuming Swede would be nothing compared to the narrow-minded maelstrom that would accompany the naming of a formerly cocky German as national coach.

Right now, England fans are holding out in the hope that former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho will take charge. While many are offering prayers that the Special One will ride to their rescue, few are considering a future where Jürgen Klinsmann beams out at them from the dug-out in his standard FA blazer.

Put common sense ahead of prejudice

But they should. Those implications could be a team playing to its full potential under a young and visionary coach; an England team feared across the world, not laughed at, and a team ready to put over four decades of underachievement behind it.

If Klinsmann gets the job and people still have a problem with him being German while he is winning matches and tournaments for England, then something is very, very wrong. For a nation of supporters which craves success as much as England fans do, it shouldn't matter where their next coach comes from as long as he's a winner.