Eriksson blames the media for his decision to quit

Of the English candidates linked to the job, Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is favourite with the bookmakers and fans alike, while the majority of those backing another foreign manager are siding with Dutchman Guus Hiddink.

Away from the main contenders, Trevor Brooking has been mentioned as have former manager Terry Venables and Juventus coach Fabio Capello.

It has to be Sam Allardyce - he combines everything you need in a modern football manager. He is a great coach, great motivator and he embraces all forms of modern technology, as well as dieticians, sports psychologists etc. He is the ideal candidate.
Mark Foster, England

Sam is the man for the job. His love of football shows on the touchline - his excitement and enthusiasm for the game is great to see.
Philip Weston, England

Big Sam must be the favourite, or is he going to become the Brian Clough of the 21st century with the Football Association scared to appoint an outspoken manager?
Neil Carter, England

Sam should be given the chance, he is a proven man-manager, forward-looking and he has no skeletons in his cupboard. However, will the FA have the bottle to appoint an outspoken manager?
Brian Williamson, U.K.

Surely Allardyce... charasmatic, conscientious, creative... and English
David Heard, England

Sam Allardyce, Steve McClaren and Alan Curbishley, in my humble opinion are not good enough to manage England From S Have your say on 606

Sam Allardyce, with Stuart Pearce as his assistant. One a great coach and motivator, with the other having all the pride and passion you could ask for! Add to those two Sammy Lee and things couldn't be better!
Rob Chapman, England

I would love to see big Sam in charge because he can get the best out of the players and wouldn't be afraid to drop a star name if they weren't performing.
Marvin Beckett, England

The new manager will inherit the most talented squad this country has seen for decades. So this is the most important decision the FA will make! Sven's biggest problem was getting players motivated. So my vote would go for Big Sam to give the team some passion!
Dan D, U.K.

England is all about national pride. Therefore he MUST be English. I would like to see Steve McClaren get the nod with Stuart Pearce taking the assistant job like McClaren does now. Pearce would epitomise the team spirit and McClaren would add the tactical nouse.
Carl Sturman, England

Do we really want England playing football like Bolton? They are awful to watch! We are not blessed with successful English managers but I'd probably plump for Curbishley.
Geoff, England

Alan Curbishley stands out, not just for his shrewd and ambitious management on the pitch but perhaps as importantly for the fact that he is wise enough to know when to keep his mouth shut off the pitch in his dealings with the media.
Chris Russell, England

Alan Curbishley all the way. He has done a brilliant job over the years with Charlton with very little money. I'd like to see what he could do with a squad of world-class players.
James Rathbone, England

I'd like to see Curbishley get it. He doesn't get nearly enough credit for what he has done at Charlton - the best English manager for a generation.
Tim, England

Stuart Pearce is doing a great job at Manchester City and being a former England player I think he has the knack to do the job.
Claire Alcock

I would love to see Stuart Pearce take over as he would do a fantastic job. However I don't see this happening, therefore I think Sam Allardyce is a good choice, we need an Englishman with passion, and these two have it in bucket-loads!
Alex, England

I would love to see someone at the helm that is PASSIONATE about this country and its football - not just the wages that go with it. That for me would be Stuart Pearce with Paul Gascoigne as his second in command.
Ray Martin, England

Stuart Pearce is the perfect man for the job. With England it's not about bringing the best out of the players as we already have enough talent, it's about instilling the passion to win, something Sven could never do, but Pearce certainly could. This is coming from a Man Utd fan!
David Mitchell,

The only Englishman who is capable is Stuart Pearce. Although he has only been in management a short time, sheer guts, determination, and his big England heart would carry him thorugh it.
Wes Clarke, England

It just has to be Martin O'Neill. Anyone else is a complete non-starter. Let's not have another round of lightweights treading water until we realise it's not working. Get Mr O'Neill to sign today so that he can be in place by August.
Jezza, England

If Martin O'Neill were in a position to take the post in July - or even in the autumn - he would be ideal. Failing that Sam Allardyce would do an exceptional job. The jingoistic British press have, I think, ensured that Eurpoean managers will think twice about taking on a job that is lived out in a red top fishbowl.
Ian Mitchell, Ireland

The FA have no choice but to let Eriksson go now. We can't have a coach with his mind on other clubs he may go on to manage while we are in the World Cup. Let's try and get O'Neill in now.
Danny Brander, England

The thought of an English manager succeeding Sven actually fills me with horror. Can you really imagine Allardyce, Curbishley or McClaren pitting tactical wits against the strongest teams in the world? Guus Hiddink should take over.
Steve B, UK

Hiddink is a class above all the English contenders. If we can get him, this generation of players might finally thrive under the manager they deserve.
Andrew, United States

We have to choose the BEST man for the job, irrespective of their nationality. Arsene Wenger has said that he wants to stay with Arsenal but if the FA knocked on his door would he rebuff them without giving the position serious thought? My choice would be between him or Hiddink with either Curbishley or Pearce as a deputy.
Keith, England

Hiddink would bring a wealth of experience to the role and he has shown that he can produce results on the world stage with the success he has had taking Holland and South Korea to the semi finals of a World Cup. For me he is the outstanding candidate.
Nik Argiropoulos, UK

I can't believe we are contemplating appointing another foreign manager From S Have your say on 606

Sadly, it may be better to appoint an able foreign coach such as Hiddink, rather than gamble a golden generation of talented footballers on the altar of idealistic nationalism.
Michael, United Kingdom

I would like either Guus Hiddink or Ottmar Hitzfeld. They have proven pedigree, passion and excellent winning track records.
Rob Wardell, England

While perhaps we want an English coach, Scolari has steered two teams to major finals and has got to be a great contender.
Richard Wood, England

Scolari turned possibly the most unfancied Brazillian team ever into 2002 World Cup winners and led Portugal to the Euro 2004 final - he has already stated he will be leaving the Portugal job after the 2006 World Cup, ideal successor surely.
Andy Reed, Somerset, UK

Scolari will get the lads playing atrractive stylish football.
Jordan, England

Scolari. His contract is up after the World Cup and he has all the credentials needed to coach top players. He is also attracted by English football. He's the natural choice.
Nick James, England

On Sven's successor, I despair. McClaren can't manage a Premiership club, Allardyce plays boring football. Pearce is too inexperienced but I'm sure he may make it one day. What about Trevor Brooking?
Mick Hartwell, UK

Trevor Brooking strolled into the West Ham job and handled it with ease. He has played at the highest level, would command respect and could use the coaches he sees fit to coach. Very astute man, ideal temprement for the job, and hopefully squeeky clean!
Andy Walker, England

My choice would be Jose Mourinho if he could be prised away from Chelsea as no current English manager is good enough.
Steve, England

Can we afford to ignore Mourihno? Miles ahead of the others in success - or we could always head back and grab Venables!
Dave Chi, UK

Allardyce has the heart but not the class, Curbishley isn't astute enough tactically, and McLaren still fails to convince. I would love to see Arsene Wenger as manager on a part-time basis. Just imagine what he could do with our group of players...
Adam Myatt, England

The next England manager should be Harry Redknapp!
Vince Blackall, UK

Why has nobody mentioned Fabio Capello at Juventus? If the FA are willing to pay �4m+ a year then even he may be tempted, and his credentials are second to none.
Joe, England

All this talk of needing to have an Englishman in charge is nonsense. It would be a huge step backwards if we appointed any of those English coaches being mentioned. None have experience at the highest level of club football (the Champions League) or international football. The FA should be looking at a shortlist of three - Hiddink, Capello and Scolari.
Gareth, England

Terry Venables is still young enough, fit, active and has an enormous amount still to give football - experience, strategic and tactical vision, a great motivator and mentor of young talent. Come on, take a deep breath and go for El Tel, you know it makes sense!
Se�n, England

It has to be Arsene Wenger, plays attractive football and knows the English game.
Alan O'Hara, UK

Paul Jewell is the right man, he has proven that he is more than a capable manager with what he did at Bradford City and now at Wigan.
Dominic Hardcastle, UK

Why isn't Peter Taylor on the list? I'm sure the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and all of the people who worked with him at under-21's would back him. His record is second to none!
Greg Mackett, UK

Allardyce, Curbishley, McLaren? This has got to be a joke. Given that Hiddink, Hitzfeld and Scolari are available, then the appointment of any British manager (other than Martin O'Neill) would be something straight out of Mike Bassett: England Football Manager.
paulg, England

Lets face it... it could be anybody! After Graham Taylor, Kevin Keegan and Eriksson there seems to be no pattern or set of credentials that are critical when looking for an England manager!
Simon Jones, England