 | KEY DATES 05/04 - FA preparing shortlist ahead of formal interviews 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 - FA wants to appoint successor before World Cup 23/01 - Eriksson to go after World Cup |
The Football Association's search for a successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson is down to a "secret" shortlist. 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 to FA chairman Geoff Thompson.
BBC Sport rounds up the latest news and speculation surrounding the vacant England job.
13 APRIL:
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley played down his chances of clinching the England job after the Addicks' defeat to Middlesbrough in their FA Cup quarter-final replay.
Despite contrary reports in the Daily Mirror, Curbishley revealed he had not been contacted by the FA for a second interview and didn't know what the situation was. According to the Daily Express and Guardian, the FA's Brian Barwick saw the four other contenders - Martin O'Neill, Steve McClaren, Sam Allardyce and Felipe Scolari - at an Oxfordshire hideaway earlier this week.
McClaren appears to be a frontrunner after guiding Boro to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and admitted he "can't think about anything else."
WHAT ARE THE MANAGERS SAYING?
Alan Curbishley:
12 April - "Something should be sorted out in the next couple of weeks. But I don't know if I'm included in that because I haven't been contacted. I don't know what the situation is."
Steve McClaren:
12 April - "I've coped with it (speculation) game after game but I can't think about anything else (but Middlesbrough). I let everyone else do the speculating.
Steve McClaren:
12 April - "My focus, and I mean this genuinely, is on my job at Middlesbrough and my sole intention is to bring success here."
Guus Hiddink, on confirming his new job as Russia coach:
10 April - "I'm glad this is off my chest now. I have been to Russia already to look at things and I already know that it will be fun to work there."
Alan Curbishley:
9 April - "When I had my meeting with the FA it was explained to me that they were going to leave no stone unturned, that they were going to explore every avenue."
Luiz Felipe Scolari
8 April - "Dealing with all the Brazilian stars is tough work. It would be easier to manage the likes of Beckham, Owen, Rooney and Terry."
Sam Allardyce:
12 April - "I'd like to reassure everyone connected with Bolton that I'm looking for players so that we can continue to compete with the elite of English and European football."
Gerard Houllier:
29 March - "I have not put my name forward and I have not been interviewed."
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."
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. On what I've seen, the best of the best came out of the Boro-Charlton replay. The best was Boro winning 4-2 so obviously, it has to be McClaren. He has succeeded in being the Boro manager, he has a good profile with the England players that he has to be the new England manager
danny taylor, uk
I have heard that the FA have made a shortlist of four, with O'Neill, McClaren, Allardyce and Curbs. How can they possibly write off big Phil? He is the one manager that we can win the World Cup with, and he wants the job.
The FA should look at the talent all the candidates have, not just go for someone with an English background. The FA are scared that a non-Brit will turn out to be like another Sven, but I can guarantee that big Phil is different - nothing like Sven.
Mo, England
How the FA allowed Guus Hiddink to sign a contract with Russia is unbelievable. His credentials are above anyone else who's been mentioned as Eriksson's possible successor and his appointment would be a scoop for England.
No disrespect but Curbishley, McLaren, O'Neill and Allardyce are just not in the same league. Hiddink has more international experience and more importantly more results than those four combined.
I think Barwick & Co are too scared to appoint a non-English manager, so will be interesting to see who they decide to go for in the end.
Thomas, Japan
Do we really want to see England play like Bolton? No way. Sam has done a great job, but that kind of football simply will not do at international level. McLaren must now get the job. There is no Englishman better qualified.
Why would Curbishley get it? Why Pearce? Decent young managers in the making, yes. Successful coaches at the highest level? No. McLaren has won plaudits at all levels.
Carl, Boro, UK
Steve McClaren? Please, give us a break! His team might have achieved a couple of worthy cup results but with the talent he has, they languish in the bottom half of the Premier League - not exactly the credential of a potential national manager.
I'd pick the manager of Grimsby Town before McClaren. If it has to be British (why?) let it be either O'Neill or Allardyce.
Ron Sinclair, Australia
Martin O'Neill the only man for the job! You don't need a coach, that's been the problem with England, making players play differently and in different positions to the way that got them into the squad in the first place.
O'Neill is the ultimate motivator and that's whets needed. His record at my club Leicester, Celtic and Wycombe speaks for itself, he gets players to play to their max.
Dave Howard, England
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