JEAN TIGANA, the Fulham manager, is a man of few words, speaks only the most basic of English anyway, and prefers the privacy of his flat in London to the wining and dining of the capital's celebrity circuit. The goldfish bowl existence of the high-profile personality is not for him.
All that is about to change. With Fulham riding high at the top of the Nationwide League first division after four successive victories, Tigana agreed yesterday, albeit with more than a hint of reluctance, to take centre stage to collect his Nationwide manager-of-the-month award for August. He is the first Frenchman to receive the honour.
Max Clifford, the PR guru and Fulham spokesman, was on hand to ease Tigana through the media ordeal. "Jean is a very shy person," Clifford said. "He doesn't like doing all this but he knows that it's the way that it's done over here and he does his best."
John Collins, the Fulham midfield player and fluent French speaker, also helped with the translation. Collins and Chris Coleman, his team-mate, have already proved adept at the club's post-match press inquests this season, again easing Tigana away from the spotlight.
"This is all a new experience for me but it is very exciting," Tigana said. "The first objective, of course, is for Fulham to be promoted and then we must take it step by step. I am delighted with the way we've started and the players have responded very well."
Tigana is gradually reshaping the playing structure at Craven Cottage, with the first-team squad now training in the morning, resting and then training again in the afternoon - like most clubs on the continent. The youth set-up is also receiving his attention. "When we first met Jean, he talked about building," Michael Fiddy, the Fulham managing director, said. "That's all he wanted to talk about."
Without satellite television in his flat, Tigana was able to watch only the highlights of England against France in Paris on Saturday. He was approached to coach France two years ago but was unable to gain release from his contract with AS Monaco.
"The French found it difficult and England played quite well," he said. "Sure, the pressure is on Kevin Keegan, but it is the same in France, Italy, everywhere. If you want the job, you have to take the pressure. That's what it is all about."
Source The Times - Russell Kempson