 | KEY DATES 10/03 - FA meets with Curbishley for informal discussions 27/02 - Three-man team report to FA chairman Geoff Thompson 02/02 - The FA appoints three-man team to find new boss 26/01 - Barwick signals intention to appoint successor before World Cup 23/01 - Eriksson reveals he will stand down after World Cup |
The Football Association's search for a successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson is under way. The Swede will step down after the World Cup finals in Germany this summer.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick (pictured right), international committee chairman Noel White and Premier League chairman Dave Richards are the three men who have been appointed to find a new boss.
BBC Sport rounds up the latest news and speculation surrounding the vacant England job.
16 MARCH:
Sir Trevor Brooking's comments on the BBC that there are "plenty of contenders" still in the frame have been picked up by the dailies.
The FA's director of football also confirmed Barwick had spoken with a number of managers.
But Brooking dismissed the idea that he would work in conjunction with two coaches, such as Charlton's Alan Curbishley and Stuart Pearce of Manchester City, who would both remain employed by their clubs.
"To suggest we're going to have any input into the selection of the team, that'll be down to the national coach and it always will be," he said.
Ex-Celtic boss Martin O'Neill remains the favourite, but he, like Bolton's Sam Allardyce, is reportedly not ready to agree to team up with with a younger man of the FA's choosing, much as Eriksson has worked with Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren.
Charlton chairman Richard Murray remains convinced Curbishley will be given the job.
"As a club our position remains the same as ever," he told the Daily Express. "We do not want him to go, but if it is offered to him and he wants to take it, we will not stand in his way."
And the Times reports that Fabio Capello has confirmed he is interested in the job - almost a month to the day reports in Italy claimed the FA had offered the Juventus boss a four-year contract worth in the region of �19m and a luxury villa in London.
One foreign manager who looks set to turn his back on the England job is Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who is rumoured to be close to taking up the Russian Federation's �5m offer to run their national team.
WHAT ARE THE MANAGERS SAYING?
Steve McClaren:
15 March - Studiously avoided answering questions about the latest speculation surrounding the England job before his Middlesbrough team beat Roma to reach the Uefa Cup quarter-finals.
Alan Curbishley:
14 March - "I want the England job. I have no idea what will happen next or even where I now stand"
Stuart Pearce:
13 March - "England is not a distraction for me, I don't take a great deal of interest in it"
Sam Allardyce:
3 March - "Everyone knows I would love to have the opportunity to be interviewed for the England job"
Luiz Felipe Scolari:
5 February - "I know if I want to take over England I need to learn the language more"
Guus Hiddink:
25 January - "There's been no contact but he would definitely be interested in hearing from the FA," said Hiddink's agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen
Fabio Capello:
16 January - "Coaching a foreign national side appeals to me. This would take up two to three months of my time and would allow me to travel."
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
Send us your comments on who should be England coach and why using the form below and we will post a selection here. No English manager impresses me sufficiently, however I would like to see Stuart Pearce involved in the new set up as he will command the respect of the current squad as well as maintain a passion to learn from an experienced international coach. My preference would be Scolari, although I believe he will be too much of a challenge for the FA. With this in mind I would like to see Hiddink or Koeman at the reigns as I believe they will work well with Pearce.
Dominic Wilson, UK
The next England manager should be Sam Allardyce. He will do a great job and wouldn't be afraid of making changes to the squad even if it means replacing Beckham, Lampard, Owen or players who don't perform.
Anhar Miah, England
Take Fabio Capello, if he wants this job. He is the best. England under Capello, what a dream!
Agron Afezolli, USA
I think that the manager should be English despite the limited choice. I would love to see Steve Coppell in charge of England as he has worked wonders at Reading
Hank, England
It has to be Trevor Brooking. Okay, so he has not got management experience, but nor did Jurgen Klinsman or Marco van Basten who now manage their national teams. Brooking can handle the press, knows the FA inside out, is a good tactician and would be an excellent England manager.
Clive Harrison, England
After the embarrassment Sven-Goran Eriksson has caused the FA they will want 'a face' with not only the right management credentials but also with the ability to deal with the pressure of the media. The appointed person will have to fit a mould and that concerns me because then it is not just about what happens on the pitch. Brian Clough was the people's choice but never got the chance due to his outspoken opinions.
Chris Owen, England
It may be impossible to achieve, but I'd love to see Arsene Wenger in charge. Arsenal have the best style of football in England, he has a reputation for turning raw talent into world beaters and he could do wonders with the players we have.
Rajiv Popat, India
Why not Alex Ferguson? Go for a manager with a real pedigree of winning with international standard players and knows the game in and out. I am not a Man U fan but can appreciate the strength of his leadership. He is ending his contract soon.
James, London
Hiddink is tactically perfect, especially in midfield where England are strong. He doesn't care for egos, he'd leave rock stars on the bench in a flash and not feel pressured to play Beckham or Gerrard if they were not performing. What's the point of this patriotic rubbish about "It's got to be an Englishman?" Get over it and focus on winning.
Neil, Australia
Luiz Felipe Scolari would be an excellent choice. I think he could give the English team a sense of collectiveness that it has been lacking in a long time.
Rodrigo Altaf, Australia
Why has nobody mentioned Peter Taylor, he has proved himself with the under-21s, he has already worked with most of the current squad and is now working with the next generation of youngsters. Surely he has to have a shout.
Dave Haddell, England
In Portugal everyone is talking about the guy. Great strategic skills and an outstanding team builder. His name? Ronald Koeman.
Dwight McMullan, Scotland
If you go for glory, it has got to be Hiddink. If passion if a priority then Pearce is the man. Must say, the idea of Hiddink and Pearce is ace. Will definitely give England glory with passion.
Wan Huzaini, Malaysia
What is everyboby thinking? Alan Curbishley, Stuart Pearce? What have Charlton ever done and Pearce has only been a manager for a year! Guus Hiddink on the other hand has guided teams to two World Cup semis and won countless domestic trophies. It seems like a simple choice to me.
Glen, England
I'd like to see Guus Hiddink as the new manager with Steve McClaren as his asisstant. Considering their records at club and international level they will form a dream pair.
Lonny Bong, Vanuatu, SW - Pacific
I would like to see the team of Martin O'Neill and Stuart Pearce. The former for systems and strategy, the latter for passion and player relations; and both for motivation and player development. I think that would be an ideal combination.
Mike Tarr, Canada
We have to start looking for the future. They need someone like Fabio Capello with Allardyce, Pearce or Curbishley providing knowledge of English football as part-time managers giving them ideal international experience.
Danny Cohen, Netherlands
When Sven was first appointed part of his brief was to give English coaches international experience. He has done that. The only one that has been with him virtually all the way has been Steve McClaren. Have the FA forgotten their own brief?
Ken Danbury, Spain
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