When England take on Colombia in Moscow on Tuesday, there will be a familiar face on the opposing bench. Ex-Leicester City midfielder Esteban Cambiasso completed his badges last summer and is now part of Jose Pekerman’s coaching staff. He will play his part in plotting England’s downfall alongside a head coach with whom he has a long history.
Cambiasso and Pekerman first crossed paths when Pekerman was in charge of Argentina’s Under-17 side. His assistant Hugo Tocalli travelled to watch a player they had identified as a potential squad member but instead came back raving about a 14-year-old midfielder who had scored a hat-trick. Cambiasso was immediately invited to join their training camp.
Five months later, in August 1995, on the verge of his 15th birthday, he played his part in Argentina’s run to the semi-finals of the Under-17 World Cup in Ecuador. Two years later, he was in the Under-20 side who won the World Cup at that age group in Malaysia.
It was in that latter tournament that the only previous competitive match between England and a side coached by Pekerman took place. The two teams met in the round of 16, with Cambiasso in the starting XI for Argentina. Early goals from Juan Riquelme and Pablo Aimar steered them to victory despite a second-half header from Jamie Carragher.
The pair became reacquainted when Pekerman was promoted to the position of senior national team coach in 2004. It was Cambiasso who was on the end of the famous 24-pass move against Serbia and Montenegro that yielded what was perhaps the goal of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
At that stage, Cambiasso had already won one league title in Spain with Real Madrid and another with Inter Milan in Italy - although he didn’t yet know it, as Juventus were yet to be stripped of the 2005-06 title. Four more Serie A triumphs and success in the Champions League would follow, as would two Greek titles right at the end of his playing career with Olympiacos. Sandwiched in between was his one year in England with Leicester City.
After he gained his coaching badges with high marks at the famous Coverciano training facility in Italy, Pekerman had no doubts about adding him to his coaching team.
“He has always been capable of analysing football well,” Pekerman said earlier this month. “I remember that after winning the Champions League, Jose Mourinho said that he was his leader out on the pitch... We have brought in a very capable and up-to-date person, who was himself competing not long ago.”
Cambiasso seems to have fitted right in. His relative closeness in age to the players has helped him quickly form relationships and build trust. His presence is of particular benefit to the central midfielders in the squad. Wilmar Barrios and others have spoken of the importance of having someone of his experience to talk to and seek advice from.
Pekerman will also be able to count on some first-hand information from Cambiasso about the members of the England squad he played against during his season in the Premier League. And, of course, the one he played alongside: Jamie Vardy.
Whether that inside knowledge will prove decisive on Tuesday remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Cambiasso is on the path to a career as a head coach. Just as in his playing days, it is Pekerman guiding his first steps.
