"Stuart who?"

This was the message emblazoned across the front pages of newspapers in South Africa upon the appointment of one Stuart Baxter as the new national soccer team coach.

This perceived ignorance from the South African media could have been avoided by a simple phone call to their Japanese contemporaries in Tokyo who could have told them about the admirable job he did out here with unheralded Sanfrecce Hiroshima (1993-1994) and Vissel Kobe (1995-1997) . . . or a phone call to England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson who consulted with Baxter as his U-19 coach on a regular basis. If still not convinced of the man's credentials, Arsenal's record-breaking manager Arsene Wenger, who recommended him for the South Africa job, may have been able to lend a voice.

In an exclusive interview with The Japan Times, Stuart Baxter discussed his views on Japan soccer; Wenger; Eriksson and the next David Beckham in the English game.

In fairness, South Africa had been bracing itself for the appointment of a "big name," with England's 1998 World Cup coach Glenn Hoddle and former Inter Milan coach Roy Hodgson's names being bandied about.

The truth is however, that while the name Stuart Baxter may not ring church bells on Christmas day to the average soccer fan, it is certainly considered in high regard among soccer insiders around the world. So much so that Baxter did not even apply for the job. Rather his name was recommended, forwarded and seconded and within a short period of time, Baxter found himself in the offices of the South African Soccer Association signing a two-year deal to become the 11th coach of the national team in the last 12 years.

Baxter had a successful spell in Japan coaching Sanfrecce Hiroshima to a first-stage championship in 1994. Although he has not been directly involved with soccer in Japan for a number of years and confesses to "not being able to name the left back for the Sanfrecce reserve team," he has nevertheless maintained close contact with the sport in this country.

Zico and Japan

So what does he think of Japan national coach Zico's job so far? Is the criticism of Zico's tenure to date justified?

Baxter was understandably reluctant to get into a debate over Zico, pointing out that everybody knows that Zico is a soccer man through and through and commands respect as a result.

"Good coaches often get bad results and bad coaches often get lucky and get good results, especially at national team level," Baxter explains. "You shouldn't judge a coach purely on results but rather on what kinds of systems he puts in place, how he deals with the media and how he inspires the players."

Baxter believes that following on from a successful home World Cup in 2002, the next logical step is for more players to join the likes of Shinji Ono, Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura, Naohiro Takahara and Junichi Inamoto in playing in overseas leagues. "This is important as long as the players don't view a big move as the end of the road, but rather as the first step in a process," he says. "The players have to keep their feet on the ground and aim to improve their game."

Baxter compares the way the game is played in Japan to the way it is in other countries.

"Soccer as it is played in different countries often reflects the culture of that particular country. In Japan the style is very fast, mobile and efficient and as a coach you want to enhance the strengths of a team not butcher them.

"South African players, for example, are very skillful -- using lots of stepovers and tricks -- yet this is not always the most effective way to play. At the same time you don't want to take the culture out of a team and you also don't want to play long-ball football either -- where the ball is sent, route-1, up to big forwards to finish off. Imposing this type of football on the Japanese for example would be stupid and insulting to their culture."

Predictably, Baxter is not a big fan of the two-stage J. League system. When he was in charge of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the team won the first stage in 1994, and finished fourth in the second stage. Baxter noticed that his charges went off the boil after winning the first stage. The team went a bit flat in the final and he felt that the second-stage winner had more momentum going into the final which was a bit unfair.

People had warned Baxter about going to Japan to coach, saying that he wouldn't learn anything as Japan was not a top football nation. These people could not have been more wrong claims Baxter. "I learned loads from my experience in Japan not only about different ways to play the game, but also about the people and the culture. Japan taught me different ways to do things and different ways to solve problems."

Sven, Arsene and Bentley

Is Sven the right man to lead England to Euro 2004 glory?

"Well, he's a winner isn't he. He is a very knowledgeable man who creates an environment which empowers the players to do what they are best at. He has moved through his career from being very hands-on in terms of tactical structure. He has moved on through his time at Benfica and the Italian clubs to a point where I feel that he has learned how to structure the tactical plan but without suffocating people."

As England U-19 coach Baxter had a front-row seat to witness the emergence of exciting young talent like Wayne Rooney and James Milner. Does he think there is anyone else about to come charging out of the paddocks to eventually fill the boots of "Golden Balls" and become the Rolls Royce of English soccer, so to speak?

"Young David Bentley -- who incidentally caught the eye with an audacious lob for his first goal in an Arsenal shirt in an F.A. Cup fourth-round tie against Middlesbrough -- has all the attributes of a complete footballer. He just needs to be managed carefully (should be in safe hands with Wenger!), and to manage his own game properly which should come with experience."

Baxter was forthright in explaining his strong ties with Wenger and what he learned from him.

"When I was coaching in Sweden, I took over a couple of young players to train with Monaco who was then being managed by Arsene. He ended up picking up one of the players and we stayed in contact from there. Our friendship grew when he and I both coached in Japan and then when Arsene moved to Arsenal and I was at Alk Stockholm/Solna, we were drawn against each other in the Champions League. We now speak with each other on a regular basis.

"Arsene likes to play his cards close to his chest and doesn't like to unfairly influence people one way or another (except when referees 'unjustly punish his players'). What I have picked up from him is his great attention to detail. We both pay attention to the physiological and nutritional aspect of the players' conditioning. Tactically we think very similarly. We both like our players to be quick and powerful and I think Arsene's teams highlight the effectiveness of penetrative play -- fast, movement off the ball and good passing."

As the South African national coach, Baxter is under no illusions as to the problems that lie ahead of him.

"Without a doubt the biggest problem in football today is the club vs. country issue. Every coach or manager understandably has his own agenda. There is a lot of money involved in football and reputations to uphold."

Alex Ferguson has complained bitterly at times about his Manchester United players coming back from England internationals injured during crucial stages of the season and Eriksson has been puzzled on occasion when certain players have not been released by their clubs due to "mysterious illnesses."

"The only way to deal with this problem is to maintain open lines of communication with respective coaches and try to work together on these issues."

While the 50-year-old Baxter makes no reference to a future role as Japan national coach, preferring to concentrate on the job at hand, it is worthy to note that the last coach to lead Japan into a World Cup, Phillipe Troussier, had a stint in charge of the South African national team before taking the post.

"I have said to Arsene Wenger that I would have no problems coming back to Japan in the future."

Watch this space . . .