Alan Shearer has been mentioned as a possible England coach

Former England captain Shearer told Football Focus he wants to go into management, but did not throw his hat into the ring for the national job.

He said: "Management interests me at some stage in my life, I have always said that. When that will be I really couldn't tell you.

"The England job is a great job for someone. The best job you can get."

Interview: Former England captain Alan Shearer

You have got the cream of the country to work with Alan Shearer on the England job

England are searching for a new coach after the 3-2 defeat against Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday ended their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008.

Shearer's glittering playing career for clubs and country has seen him named as a possible future England coach, but he agreed other candidates have greater experience to offer.

He said: "I was as staggered and surprised as anyone to see my name being linked with it on Thursday straight after the defeat. Certainly none of it has come from myself.

"There are a lot of names being bandied around, certainly a lot with more experience than I have got."

And he insisted it was still one of the premier jobs in world football, despite the pressures, saying: "You have got the cream of the country to work with."

Shearer admitted club football had moved ahead of international football on the list of priorities for some clubs and managers.

He said: "I think that is quite clear. You can't blame the clubs for that. You can't blame the managers for that because they have got their interests to look after.

"The managers are getting paid very well by their respective clubs to do a job for their clubs not the country they are working in."

Shearer also refused to criticise the commitment of England's players, despite the abject display on Wednesday.

He said: "I am not accusing any of them of not wanting to play for their country, but it wasn't pretty the other night.