Not only because Spurs never bothered to hide their interest in one of the world's brightest footballing minds, shamelessly courting the Sevilla coach as early as August, but also because they consider themselves among England's big clubs.

And for a big club, one who aspire to win trophies, the new man responsible for bringing success to White Hart Lane was always going to be foreigner - or, rather, never English.

Consider these statistics.

No English manager has won the Premier League since its 1993 inception.

The last time an English manager lifted a major European trophy was in 1984, when Joe Fagan guided Liverpool to European Cup success.

Need more reasons for English managers being not much sought after? They have never been named Manager of the Year in their own league.

Howard Wilkinson, the chairman of the League Managers' Association, said Ramos' arrival is bad for English football.

'Yes, the infusion of foreign players and foreign coaches has raised standards,' he told Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

'But the uncontrolled rush of them will eventually lower standards.

'If we are to do anything about that then we need strong leadership at the FA, Premier League and within clubs because it has now become Hollywood.'

Yet, is it not Hollywood football the English are selling to the world?

Is it not the Premier League's goal to make English football the most-watched league in the world?

England's top clubs all have a constant - a charismatic, knowledgeable foreign coach who manages to get the best out of his charges.

Arsenal have Arsene Wenger. Liverpool have Rafael Benitez.

The jury is still out on Chelsea's Avram Grant. But former manager Jose Mourinho sure fits that bill.

Scot Alex Ferguson is the only Briton who can match the foreign legion.

But just what do the foreign coaches bring?

A superior tactical knowledge seems more likely. They have added systems like 4-2-3-1, 4-3-2-1 and 4-3-1-2 to the basic 4-4-2.

They also have a superior scouting network, and bring in foreign players in the mould of Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Elano.

They are also big on the scientific aspects of football.

As former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon told The Independent of his first impression of Wenger: 'Our feeling was that we had not done enough running. We were concerned that the team wouldn't be fit.

'The manager explained that it was all scientific and that the team would be fine.

'Sure enough, 10 days later we flew out of the blocks full of energy. That man knows what he's talking about.'

Spurs were the first Premier League team to hire a non-British coach in 1993, when former player Ossie Ardiles took charge.

Today, there are five - a Premier League record.

The other managerial posts are held by three Scots, one Welshman, one Irishman and one Northern Irishman. There are only nine English managers - and expect that number to drop.

Wilkinson's point is pertinent. Ideally, you want younger kids to look up to English role models. Ideally, you want Englishmen who can guide England to success and not another Steve McClaren.

But it cannot be inspiring when promising young managers like Paul Jewell quit a Premiership job.

Or when the most successful English manager now is Harry Redknapp of Portsmouth, in seventh position.

Can you then blame clubs for looking away from England?

marclim@sph.com.sg