The FA has reportedly made Arsene Wenger their number one target to take over the reins of the English national team from Roy Hodgson. It is also understood that an interim manager will be announced for a year before the Frenchman joins in 2017.
Roy Hodgson quit as England’s head coach after their Euro 2016 run came to a shocking end at the hands of minnows Iceland. Hodgson’s back-room staff that included Gary Neville and Ray Lewington also resigned. With the FA in search of an able replacement for the former West Brom boss, ESPN has reported that England are willing to wait for Wenger to see out his tenure at Arsenal, and will hire an interim coach for the next 12 months.
In an interview with PA Sport, (h/t ESPN) when asked about Arsene Wenger taking the job, FA chief executive Martin Glenn stated:
“It is a possibility, of course. If you said, ‘This person is an absolute shoo in, can you wait?’ then we are well-placed I think with an interim solution.”
“You might get interim solutions as we have had in the past. We’ve gotten get a few managers to come and help. It is such an important decision, as we have got to get the right person.”
“To wait a few months, if that is what we had to do, I think would be the right decision,” added Glenn.
Who are the potential candidates to take over the job?
ESPN also reported that a three-man committee has been appointed to discuss the possibility of hiring a non-English manager. Former Manchester United executive David Gill and FA technical director Dan Ashworth will help Glenn in making the decision.
England’s under-21 coach, Gareth Southgate has been tipped to take over the senior team job until a permanent head coach is announced. The other names linked to the job are Steve Bruce, Sam Allardyce and Glenn Hoddle (via BBC). Harry Redknapp, Eddie Howe and Guus Hiddink are also reported to be in the running. According to Sky Sports, United States’ head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is interested in the job.
The new coach’s first taste of managing the Three Lions will come on the 4th of September when the side is scheduled to travel to Slovakia for a World Cup 2018 qualifying match.
