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BOA chairman: Fergie should coach 2012 British team

24/07/2008

British team will compete in the London 2012 Olympics and Sir Alex Ferguson should be the coach, according to the chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Political conflict has marred plans for a British Olympic XI in the past, with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football federations fearful that cooperation would result in Fifa stripping them of their footballing independence, forcing a British team to enter World Cups and European championships.

But according to a report in the Daily Mail newspaper, a British team composed entirely of Englishmen would be the likely result should the other federations prevent their players from taking part.

"The impact of a British team on the public and their support of the Games will be enormous," said Lord Moynihan, BOA chairman.

"We would also expect that team to be a strong medal contender and thereby generate tremendous excitement throughout the country.

"We must have a team in these Games and we will have a team."

A British team has not competed in the Olympic football event since the 1972 Munich games, with Britain's last gold coming in 1912.

And even if the team were composed of 11 English players, Lord Moynihan believes Scotsman Sir Alex Ferguson would be the best choice to coach the side to a gold medal 100 years on.

"We would want the most highly-qualified man for that job so obviously I would support Fergie as well as considering, of course, any English manager the FA might put forward who had comparable credentials."