Cocacolajojo wrote:So I take it all of you in this here thread are avid followers of the Danish football system?
You're seriously discussing his merits based on his time in the Danish league which is the final destination of players that are too good for the Swedish league but not good enough for the Dutch league and a stepping stone for players that(mostly) end of populating the first division of the Dutch, Swiss and Austrian leagues. A league that like all of the Scandinavian leagues is a lot about luck and where a season is often decided on whether the title contenders get to keep their star players during the transfer window that interrupts the season.
Mind you I'm willing to applaud any team that snatches the league trophy away from FC Copenhagen (the financial super power of that league) but before anyone mentions Bröndby in the CL, they have to remember that those years were also very good for the Danish league in general, with good agent connections into the African player-market. The league had a market advantage that has since decreased to some extent. The financial advantages over Sweden that enabled Danish clubs to take the best from our precious Allsvenska has also decreased since, because of changes in government and the tax-cuts that followed.
What happened to Bröndby after Laudrup went has nothing to do with his absense. It should also be rememberd that he had a financial backing that most of his predecessors and successors wasn't and hasn't been able to enjoy.
By all means debate, but it might be wise not to put too much value on wins made in any Scandinavian league. Our leagues are full of managers that win them but aren't former superstars and not much becomes of them. That a former superstar who spent a good chunk of his career in Spain then went to Spain to manage should probably not be seen as a result only based on merit and if Laudrup hadn't spent his decent (not succesful) season at Getafe, we might not have heard more about him than that he got fired from some mildly interesting job in the Netherlands or Denmark.
The main discussion point should probably be if he's been able to reciprocate his early successes outside of Denmark. Has he?
I bow to your superior knowledge of Danish football, however, we are all very familiar here with English foorball and yet still vastly different opinions are given on the subject.
What is fair to say is that Laudrup was successful and adored at Brondby.
Your question has he achieved outside Denmark is easy to answer. Of course he has. What he has accomplished in English football is already remarkable. To win a trophy with Swansea
Is something no other manager has done, nor did any of us expect. Their league placing was a superb effort on such a limited budget. His time in Spain can only be judged as a success too. At Brondby he had a chance to win and did. In the Prem he didn't, but and yet still managed it.
Most importantly, wherever he has been in charge he has played stylish football. Real Madrid have reportedly been sniffing round and yet still some won't see he has the ability for a top job.
Amd finally, his reputation as a top calibre player gets him a lot of respect within the game, not that I'm saying that is any guarentee or an absolute necessity, but it certainly helps when dealing with modern players with their over inflated egos. I have no doubt that were he to be appointed at City (which looks unlikely now) he would be a success. Not a candidate to be dismissed just because he cut his teeth in management in Denmark. There have been well respected managers who have plied their trade in Scandinavia,
