HERBERT CHAPMAN

Coached by English clubs, "Northampton Town", "Leeds City", "Huddersfield Town, Arsenal FC.

Herbert Chapman was working with the English clubs at those times when the profession is a football coach, as a top specialist in its infancy. On the problems of tactics, in fact, has not speculated, was not different game, "models" used depending on what opponent is opposed to the team in this particular game, there were no scientific methods of training players. Needless to say, did not have a diploma Chapman and coach. This man was a brilliant self-taught, made an important invention of football-related command tactics.

However, Herbert Chapman was generally a very remarkable person. This is evidenced by at least the beginning of his career. He was born in a small village in South Yorkshire, the entire male population is employed in coal mines. Miner, also illiterate, was the father of Herbert. A similar future awaits him, and, like all his peers, but Herbert was the only one who worked tirelessly educate ourselves, and then entered the Sheffield Technical College and received a diploma of mining engineer.

However, he soon became interested in football and in the early XX century combined work in their fields with performances in various clubs, though not too successfully. His last club was London's Tottenham Hotspur. Here in 1907 after one of the matches held a historic conversation forward Herbert Chapman to the team's captain, Walter Bull, who was offered a position coach in the club Northampton Town. But Bull doubted his abilities and decided to recommend that instead of a Chapman. That, however, most of the time spent on the bench, but showed himself reasonable, sensible person, that determined the choice Bulla. Thus began the coaching career of Herbert Chapman.

In the "Northampton" Chapman was a player-coach. Then he led the club "Leeds City". After World War Chapman headed club Huddersfield Town, which for three consecutive years from 1924 to 1926, became the champion.

Football had already done a lot of evolution. If initially there was no tactical schemes and all the crowd ran forward, leaving just in case to protect one player in the 1870's began to disperse players on the field, taking a comfortable position for receiving the ball from a partner. This immediately allowed to strengthen the attack, making the action of attacking more meaningful. Soon there were players on the circuit arrangement of 2-2-6. Then one of the assailants drew off in the midfield. So there was a position of central midfielder who has become for many years a key in the actions of the football team. At this place was chosen player of the generic type, who could equally well operate in the attack and defense. In addition, he became a "manager of goals, starting the attack from his half of the field with accurate pass.

Photo — «Herbert Chapman»

At the same time, two wingers and two defensive players also have permanent seats on the field and "supervised" their assigned area, meeting them in attacking opponents. In other words, the game has become positional.

Using a 2-3-5 scheme, combined with the unexpected Paz opened by the player led to the fact that the attackers have to score many goals. This forced the defenders to respond. The next tactical "invention" in the early 1920's made a quarterback Newcastle Bill McCracken, expertly mastered a "trap" for the attackers. At that time operated the rule that a player is not considered in the offside, if at least three football players of the opposing team (one of them could be the goalkeeper) is between them and their gates. This something the football rule and enjoyed McCracken. At that moment, when someone from the attackers did transfer forward, the defenders on the team McCracken amicably departed from the gate, leaving the enemy players for their backs. Of course, immediately sounded whistle, which fixes an offside position. "

Such a cunning trick to fire even if one of the defenders hesitated, did not have time to go ahead - all are equal before the attackers were only two (counting the goalie) player of the defending team. And according to the rules, not to be considered in the offside, they should be not less than three . . .

Amazing novelty quickly taken up by other teams, and performance immediately plummeted. Now, defenders can still put out attack in the middle of the field. In some matches whistle determining offside, sounded almost every minute. The game soon became boring and lost entertainment. To resolve this issue, FIFA had even changed the rules of football. Since 1925, no player is considered offside in that between him and the gates were no longer three, and only two foreign players. And the attackers were again to score many goals.

Also in 1925, Herbert Chapman appeared in London's Arsenal. He came to this club, read a newspaper ad that Arsenal is looking for is not even a coach and manager. And Chapman primarily manifested itself specifically as a brilliant manager, contributed to the prosperity of the club.

For a start, he made great efforts to . . . change the name of the metro station "Gillespie Road" near the stadium Highbury to Arsenal. Name of the football club appeared on metro and maps of London, making him a great advertisement. In addition, Chapman became perhaps the first of the managers of the British clubs, paid great attention to "personnel policy" - not hesitating, lured good players at Arsenal from other clubs, and in addition has an amazing gift to recognize football talents in the bud. That's how he acquired Clifford Bastin from "Exeter City FC and Alex James of the club Preston North End FC, picking up a great line of attack.

Photo — «Herbert Chapman»

But when you buy the players he has primarily been guided by considerations of their coaches, as players are not picked just because they were strong, and they developed a fundamentally new tactical scheme.

Chapman, a lot of thinking about the actions of players and positions held by them, finally found a solution, how to resist the attacking enemy, which, under the new offside rule, had a significant advantage over defenders. After the attackers had five, and only two defenders, and the frontline is easily passed between them, they find themselves right in front of the gate. The solution was simple but brilliant - Chapman moved into central midfield defense, making it a central defender.

Midfielders at the same time it became two, but Chapman pulled back a little of two attackers. In the center of the field appeared as if a square of four players, it is easy to hammy midfield rival, acting under the old scheme, 2-3-5. Players are the same Arsenal have now been placed under the scheme 3-2-2-3. This was the famous system of "Double-Wing", who then took up the football clubs around the world.

In the meantime, Arsenal quickly became the strongest in the English league. In 1930 he first won the FA Cup, and in the finals defeated former club Chapman "Huddersfield Town - 2:0. In 1931 Arsenal won the first national championship. The next time he became the champion in 1933 and already three times in a row.

Of course, come up with a system of "Double-Wing" was not enough, it was necessary to bring it into action. And Chapman has worked with many players putting in the foundation of team play speed, the accurate passing, athleticism, strikes at goal from any of the provisions and the play head. This way, he paid special attention to developing for practicing headers whole system of special exercises.

Genial coach owns a number of other football innovations ahead of time. It was he who suggested to sew shirts facilities. This idea was tested in 1933 in the FA Cup final, but the mandatory numbering of football players has been implemented only in 1939. Chapman also suggested to play a white ball, but it was only in 1950. His other idea was to light the football field projectors, which would hold matches in the evening, but she also has been implemented already much later after his death.

Great coach died in 1934 from a sudden inflammation of the lungs. But he managed to turn a fairly ordinary London club into one of the most powerful and prosperous. Now the bust of Herbert Chapman takes pride of place in the Marble Hall of Fame Stadium, Highbury, which is famous Arsenal. A system developed by Chapman, "Double-Wing" was used in the football world more than a quarter century.