Pearce confirmed as British Olympic football coach

Former England defender Stuart Pearce said he hopes to select players from all four home nations when he coaches Britain's first Olympic football team in 52 years at the 2012 London Games

The 49-year-old Pearce, whose appointment was announced Thursday by The Football Association, also coaches England's under-21 team and is a member of Fabio Capello's staff for the senior national side.
While the Olympic team will be made up mostly of English players, Pearce will have the potentially contentious task of selecting some Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish players.
Britain has not fielded an Olympic football team since 1960 because Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland fear losing their independence within FIFA. The world body has assured the federations their status won't be affected by participating in the 16-nation Olympic tournament.
Despite that guarantee, the three associations have said they won't back the British Olympic team, although they are unlikely to mount legal challenges to prevent their players from competing.
“I am certainly not going into this job only looking to select English players,” Pearce said at Wembley Stadium, where the Olympic final will be played on Aug. 11. “This should if possible be made up of players from all the home nations … If I was a player I would be certainly be doing everything I could to be put up for selection.”
Wales players Gareth Bale of Tottenham and Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal are considered Britain's best non-English players and have said they want to play in the Olympics.
“It's (52) years since Great Britain had a team in the Olympics and I think it will be a really fantastic opportunity to bring together players from the home countries,” FA chairman David Bernstein said. “It will be interesting how the squad develops.”
Pearce can include three players over the age of 23 in an 18-man squad, raising the possibility that 36-year-old former England captain David Beckham could be granted his wish to play in the Olympics.
“Form and fitness will dictate who I decide to pick,” Pearce said when asked about Beckham.
The FA is creating a “long list” of potential players, who will then have to confirm their availability after talking with their clubs and national associations.
Pearce could select members of England's 2012 European Championship squad, including Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who is banned from the three group stage games at the June 8-July 1 tournament after receiving a red card in the team's final qualifying game.
But clubs preparing for the new season and embarking on lucrative preseason tours overseas could try to prevent their stars from appearing at the Olympics.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi helped Argentina win gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics even though the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that his club was entitled to deny him permission.
Pearce, who was known as “Psycho” during his playing days when he made 78 appearances for England, has coached the under-21 side since 2007 after managing Manchester City.
“I was fortunate to be part of Euro '96, so I know how special it can be to play for your country on home soil at a major tournament,” he said. “I'm sure this group of players will relish being part of not only a huge tournament in this country, but a unique one competing together and representing the U.K.”
Britain will field a women's team for the first time at an Olympics. It will be coached by Hope Powell, who has lead the England team since 1998.
Both teams are set to play friendlies in July to warm up for the tournament which starts on July 25—two days before the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium.
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