JAMES HARRINGTON
FRENCH COLUMN

Who'd be a high-level coach? They’re loved and hated, praised and criticised in equal measure on a near-daily basis.
Their reputations are only as good as the last game they didn’t play in but were in charge of; and their jobs – with, in France, employment law caveats – are almost per manently on the line. As often as not it seems that a coach’s working life is akin to crossing a deep, dangerous gorge on an ancient and unmaintained rope bridge. At night. In a blizzard.
No wonder Perpignan coach Patrick Arlettaz claimed managers count their periods in charge...