Both Still and Rosenior are thriving but the fact there are so few British coaches operating in Europe’s top five leagues suggests there is a problem.
By contrast, Serie A features 16 Italian coaches, La Liga has 14 Spanish coaches, the Bundesliga has 10 German coaches and Ligue 1 has nine French coaches.
“[It’s] the opportunities,” says Still. “And by opportunities I mean: do we have enough coaches going through the badges? Are the badges accessible and easy to get on and once we’ve got the badges are there enough opportunities at clubs?
“Does the outside world look at English coaches as a real option? There’s a load of top Spanish coaches, top Portuguese coaches, top Dutch, German coaches but can we push that barrier as well?”
Rosenior adds: “I look at the German model. They’ve got some outstanding young German coaches. We have one coaching our national team, which is fantastic.
“What you see – and this is over the last 10 years – is that they have younger coaches who have been given opportunities in the Bundesliga.
“They’ve been more exposed to that level earlier, so maybe that’s something we can look at. But, for me, it’s not about the nationality of a manager, it’s about the qualities that they bring.”
With just 20 managerial spots available does the Premier League feel a bit of a closed shop?
“Sometimes,” says Still. “But it’s difficult to sort of have a grasp or a proper sense of what the reality is.
“I don’t know what those Premier League clubs are thinking. I don’t know how they’re working. I don’t know what their next step in their recruitment process is.
“It’s the best league in the world for a reason so you’ve got to be one of the best in the world and that’s what I think we all aspire to do.”
Rosenior sees it somewhat differently.
“I think it depends on what your ultimate goal is,” he says. “My ultimate goal isn’t to be in the Premier League.
“I don’t think football is a linear thing where you say, ‘Right, I worked in the Championship, I’m going to go to the Premier League’.
“My ultimate goal is to be the best coach I can be and it’s up to the decision makers at each football club to pick who they think the right coach is for their club.”
There was a time when few British players ventured overseas, but the numbers are growing season upon season. Should British coaches seek to do similar?
“I think it’s a great experience,” says Still “I think learning about different cultures, different ways of playing the game, different opposition, different players. I’d definitely encourage it because you open yourself up to a lot more.”
Rosenior adds: “It’s not for me to say to anyone where they should take their careers. And it’s not about nationality. It’s just about being the best person you can be and working as hard as you can every day.”
Both Rosenior and Still have worked exceptionally hard to get to where they are right now in their careers and the decisions they have made have set them on a collision course which will culminate, temporarily at least, at Lens’ Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday.
