At the time of writing The FA have announced that they are in talks with West Brom manager Roy Hodgson.
Following the resignation of Fabio Capello the FA announced that they wanted the search for a new coach to be completed quickly and efficiently. They also wanted an Englishmen in charge of the national squad. Reports suggest The FA approached bookies favourite Harry Redknapp but he was too expensive. This left the door open for Hodgson.
Hodgson, who’s currently in charge of West Brom has admitted that he’d be overjoyed to take up the England position: “If ever the people in charge decided that I was the man they wanted then I would be delighted to do it but at the same time I am also perfectly happy for them to choose someone else if that’s what they want to do”. Very diplomatic.
The 64-year-old Englishman has an expansive International record having managed Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Finland. He has also managed domestic teams in Italy, Sweden and England.
Dave Bernstein the FA Chairman has said: “Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the time scale we set”. Well it looks like they’ve finally got the job done. Roy is our new England manager.
His long term England contract will cover three tournaments up to and including Euro 2016, this will take Hodgson up to his 69th birthday. Hodgson has had a good international track record throughout his career and has had a successful time (in general) during his domestic career. The only blot on his copybook was with his previous club Liverpool. How much he’s too blame for that debacle is unclear. What’s clear is that club hero Kenny Dalglish has struggled just as much, if not more as Hodgson during his second tenure as manager.
In total he has managed 18 teams at either domestic or international level, including two spells at Inter Milan in the 1990s.
His England career will start with two friendlies with Norway away and Belgium at home just before the Euros. A fairly good warm-up, it would seem.
With a relatively easy group in the Euros England fans must feel confident with qualification into the later stages. Chelsea’s success in Europe’s elite competition also bodes well. Things seem to be looking up for England fans. Wayne Rooney’s two game ban may be a stumbling block, but with a new manager and a set of pumped up players, who knows what will happen?
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