Who will take over England Job Now?
JOSE MOURINHO
How England fans would love the self-proclaimed “Special One” to become the England manager. Ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho would be a popular choice with England fans The maverick and charismatic Portuguese is currently out of a job after his Chelsea exit earlier this season and has all the credentials to handle such a mammoth undertaking. Mourinho has experience at the highest levels in club football having led Porto to the Portuguese league titles and Champions League winners’ trophy before two successive Premier League titles with Chelsea. Tactically astute, he also has the sufficient ego, and oozes the confidence and arrogance, to handle the biggest names as well as not being afraid to put the team before big name stars. But there is a question mark over whether he wants to switch from club football to the international game. The FA may be able to test his resolve with the currency of cash, while the carrot of having the chance to win the World Cup may tempt him.
MARTIN O’NEILL
The Aston Villa manager is, along with Mourinho, an early favourite with bookmakers for the job. He was overlooked in favour of McClaren last summer after reports suggested his no-nonsense manner did not go down too well with his FA interviewers. O’Neill is famed for the motivational skills, which England are in desperate need of, while his strength of personality and unflinching belief suggest he can more than handle the rigours of the job and players. England may have to disregard hopes of the more aesthetically-pleasing football for more of a results-based game under him but that seems like a minor sacrifice at present. O’Neill’s chairman Randy Lerner has said he would not stand in his manager’s way if he wanted the England job. But, the difficulty in luring him is how much O’Neill is still reeling from the rejection from the FA after his last interview.
HARRY REDKNAPP
The exploits of Redknapp at Portsmouth have seen him emerge as a viable candidate. He kept Portsmouth up against the odds in spectacular fashion in 2005/2006 before leading them to ninth last season and sixth at present so far this term. Redknapp’s side play effective and open football and the fact he is English furthers his cause. The FA may see his penchant for the controversial as a major drawback, while Redknapp’s experience at the top level is also likely to count against him.
SAM ALLARDYCE & ALAN CURBISHLEY
Curbishley (left) and Allardyce are English but are they up to the job? This duo are in the frame more for the fact they add to the list of English contenders than for their exploits at club level. Both were keen for the chance to prove themselves at bigger clubs and, with Allardyce moving from Bolton to Newcastle and Curbishley leaving Charlton for West Ham, they are on a stage where they can enhance their credentials. But they have yet to do that and it appears it is too soon for either until they make more of a mark. Curbishley did keep West Ham in the Premier League with seven wins in nine games at the end of last season but, after a summer spending spree, the test is to see where he can take his side. The FA could be put off appointing Allardyce as it is still investigating corruption claims made the BBC programme Panorama.
GUUS HIDDINK
He claims he was offered the job before McClaren but turned it down because he had already agreed to take over Russia. Hiddink has only recently extended his contract with Russia until 2010 and is unlikely to be prised away from his role until after leading their challenge at Euro 2008. At 60, his agent has also suggested the Dutchman may prefer to stay away from a position which entails such a spotlight.
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI
The Brazilian World Cup winner has succeeded in leading Portugal to Euro 2008. He was courted by the FA after Sven-Goran Eriksson’s exit and the publicity surrounding FA chief executive Brian Barwick’s trip to meet him undermined McClaren’s appointment. Scolari then stated he did not want the job and he is a firm outsider as the FA will not wait for him until after he masterminds Portugal’s Euro 2008 challenge next summer.
MARK HUGHES
The Blackburn manager has won plenty of admirers for his exploits with Wales and currently at Blackburn Rovers. His side play a physical game with football which is pleasing to the eye and, most of all, they get results. Hughes led Blackburn into Europe last season but the fact his side went out in the first round and a lack of experience may count against the FA targeting him.
ALAN SHEARER
Shearer has no managerial experience and would be a wild card appointment. The former Newcastle striker does have a proven track record of having produced the goods as a player on the international stage and is likely to have the respect of the players. He can also use the example of Jurgen Klinsmann taking over as Germany boss without any previous experience and leading his country to the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup.
JURGEN KLINSMANN
The way former Tottenham striker Klinsmann breathed new life into the German national team and the vibrancy with which the team played was also impressive. He left his job with Germany after the World Cup and, despite the American-based Klinsmann reportedly being courted by Chelsea, he has yet to take up another post. But, after leaving Germany, he may feel it would be insulting to his home nation if he came back into the game to become manager of England, while the FA would also be cautious in going for Klinsmann.
MARCELLO LIPPI & FABIO CAPELLO
The two Italians are currently out of the game but have revered reputations for the success they have enjoyed in the game. Lippi led Italy to the World Cup last year, while Capello led Real Madrid to the Spanish league title last season before leaving the club during the summer. Capello has stated his ambition to take the job but a style of play revolving around the defensive side of the game from both these elder statesmen of the game could put them out of the running.
Story from www.bbc.co.uk
