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« on: August 12, 2011, 03:09:54 AM »
The Guardian is reporting a fascinating interview with Roy Hodgson who admits that he fancies taking over the England job after Capello. If he has a half decent season this season then he would undoubtedly be amongst the front runners. DA, start looking for a successor!!
The West Bromwich Albion manager, Roy Hodgson, feels that the next England manager should be English.
Roy Hodgson has said he would like to manage England when Fabio Capello steps down after Euro 2012 but he would need to have the backing of supporters and the media.
The West Bromwich Albion manager agrees with the Football Association that Capello's successor ought to be English and, as one of only seven Englishmen managing in the Premier League, he would, almost automatically, feature on a shortlist. Indeed he could be expected to do so prominently.
Hodgson, though, knows how difficult it can be in a top job if there is the general perception that you are not the right man for it. He took over at Liverpool last summer when Kenny Dalglish was the popular choice and, after a difficult five months, he was sacked and replaced by the Scot.
"I would rather hope that, if I was ever going to be offered the England job, it would be with the backing of the important people," Hodgson said. "That would be the media, who represent the fans and, of course, the fans. Otherwise it's very difficult for anyone who takes the job because, even if you've got the competence and you are maybe the 'right person', you need to be perceived as the right person. And the perception of my Liverpool appointment was not right and, as a result, you end up paying for it.
"It [the England job] is not something I go around thinking about. If I get the question, I try to deal with it. I'm perfectly happy working as a club coach in the Premier League. If the day arrives when I do get invited to talk to the FA, I will see what happens then."
Hodgson enjoys international management and he has previously taken charge of Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Finland. "I don't think that, as someone who's managed three nations as a foreigner, I should say: 'It's got to be an Englishman [after Capello],'" Hodgson said.
"But it would be naive of me, having been back here for four years, working and following the debates and getting a feel for the country ... to some extent, it would be very unwise of the FA to go down another route because I'm pretty sure that the country now is in the mood for an Englishman managing their national team.
"I've said that I'm English [and] a great admirer of the English national team. I think it's the most important job in the country for English football. If I can give it serious thought, I would be happy."
Hodgson admitted that he had gone to Liverpool "on the back foot", having not been "the fans' choice". But he was reluctant to row over an old story and his focus is on the new season at West Brom.
Hodgson said the club had proposed a contract to the midfielder Owen Hargreaves, having met him on Tuesday and had their doctor, Mark Gillett, examine his suspect knee, the state of which led to Manchester United releasing him at the end of last season.
"We made it clear, 'Look, we've done the test and we agree with you that the knee is OK and you can play football,'" Hodgson said. "And, of course, if you'd like to come and play for us, that would be lovely. Whether or not our offer is going to be interesting to him, that's what I don't know. I think he'll play for someone."
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