 | KEY DATES 05/04 - FA decides on a shortlist ahead of formal interview process 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 down to a "secret" shortlist ahead of formal interviews. 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, Premier League chairman Dave Richards and FA vice-chairman David Dein are the four men who have been appointed to find a new boss.
They will be joined in assessing the options by director of football development Trevor Brooking before reporting their findings to FA chairman Geoff Thompson.
BBC Sport rounds up the latest news and speculation surrounding the vacant England job.
6 APRIL:
After the unofficial shortlist of four was widely reported on Wednesday, the odds on Steve McClaren being the new England manager have come tumbling down.
According to some of the papers, Sven-Goran Eriksson's assistant McClaren is the players' choice to succeed the Swede.
And the Boro boss ticks all the FA's boxes too - he has won a trophy, has experience at a big club (Manchester United), knows the international scene and is proving tactially adept in European competition too.
England captain David Beckham and striker Michael Owen are both believed to be admirers of the 44-year-old.
Martin O'Neill is still very much in the running, but he is thought to be close to accepting the manager's job at Newcastle instead.
A second round of interviews is set to take place next week as Barwick steps up the process.
WHAT ARE THE MANAGERS SAYING?
Alan Curbishley:
2 April - "My meeting in March was the last time anything was said to me. As far as I am aware the FA is still talking and nothing is finalised."
Sam Allardyce:
1 April - "It's one of the biggest jobs in the world and I'm at the stage now when I think I'm ready."
Gerard Houllier:
29 March - "I have not put my name forward and I have not been interviewed."
Guus Hiddink:
24 March - "I've decided to stop as trainer with PSV at the end of this season, and that's about it."
Peter Taylor:
24 March - "My meeting was about the role, but I'm sure Alan Curbishley's meeting would have been for the role."
Fabio Capello:
24 March - "Within three years I will pack in coaching at club level and then I want to realise the dream I have always had inside me - England."
Luiz Felipe Scolari:
23 March - "I had an informal meeting with the English federation. I do not feel I am in a race to be the next England boss."
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.
Stuart Pearce:
13 March - "England is not a distraction for me, I don't take a great deal of interest in it."
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
Send us your comments about the England manager's job using the form below and we will post a selection here. Curbishley, Pearce and McClaren have all done great jobs but not at the very highest level i.e. Champions League. When they do it there then they can be considered for england.
Shaun, England
We deffo need an Englishman but not Steve McClaren. He will take us down to the depths of the Graham Taylor era. It has got to be Sir Bobby, Pearce, Alan Shearer and Nigel Clough.Young guns learning from the best.
Robin Cattani, England.
The FA will pick one of the British coaches, though none of them have the international experiance needed. And as far as I can see it, England with an English coach will never win anything.
David, Norway
Got to be "Big Phil" Scolari. He's not interested in Prima Donnas, egos, favourites or player power - if you're playing well you're in, simple as that. He picks the best team for the job.
Steven, England
What concerns me is the fact that Mr Barwick is not a football person and is not qualified to choose the next England manager.
Gary Lee, England
Steve McLaren is DEFINITELY NOT the right person for the job, he has hardly achieved anything for Middlesborough and to watch them play is utterly boring. Sam's the man.
Steve, Letchworth
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