England national team coach Gareth Southgate's assistant manager Steve Holland thinks that Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are helping to raise the level of English coaches.
While England is getting ready to play UEFA Nations League semi final against Netherlands on Thursday, the assistant manager spoke with BBC 5 Live.
“I don’t think me or Gareth want to sound like heroes, but we are very proud of being English," said Holland.
“For many years now our reputation abroad has not been great for whatever reason - players and coaches - frankly. And it is something we are very passionate about changing the perception of at the highest level, because we have good coaches at this level.
“We have outstanding coaches in this country, at youth level and senior level. We have good young players and senior players. We are an amazing football nation, we really are.
“I had seven years at Chelsea, working for seven different coaches. All high-level coaches — four had managed Real Madrid or won the Champions League. That is the challenge.
"It is no good English coaches, myself or Gareth included, crying about the lack of this or the lack of that. It is the way it is, and the challenge is to pick the best from the best and work as hard as possible to create our own opportunities.
"I think somebody like Dean Smith worked many years in the lower leagues, behaving well, good teams playing good football. They are a really good advert and it is fantastic that they get the opportunity to work at the highest level.
"Not just work at the highest level, but at a club in Aston Villa who will have a chance to do a bit more than survive.
“Villa are one of our biggest clubs, historically. It is good to see and hopefully that continues and hopefully when everyone has had enough of me and Gareth, the options for the next guy are, firstly, significant and secondly, all English.”
Guardiola won Premier League for the second year in a row with Manchester City, while Jurgen Klopp's side reached the Champions League final also for the second year in a row but this time they became the champions.
