Is The FA any closer to learning Fabio Capello’s replacement?
Richard | Dec 20, 2011 | Comments 0
With Euro 2012 seemingly drawing ever closer, it is still unclear whether or not the English FA have begun to consider who they would like to see replace current boss Fabio Capello whose contract expires at the end of the tournament next Summer. Whoever takes the job will have the task of getting England to the finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Speculation has been rife for some time that Spurs boss, Harry Redknapp, will be the top of the shortlist, however, he has built up a very strong squad at White Hart Lane that looks certain to qualify for the Champions League next season. Moreover, Tottenham are not without a shout of winning the Premier League, let alone finishing in the top four come May. Should this turn out to be the case, then the FA can expect a huge fight from the Tottenham Board who will be most reluctant to let Redknapp go and would he really want to but he still remains the warm favourite with bookmakers.
The England manager’s job has so often turned out to be a “poisoned chalice” for many in the past, with a whole succession of managers feeling the wrath of the British press. Only the late Sir Bobby Robson escaped any serious criticism but much of that was down to luck rather than his judgement. Under him England were lucky to reach the quarter final of the 1986 World Cup and the semi final of the 1990 version, despite how well they played in those two particular matches.
One of Redknapp’s predecessors at Tottenham, Terry Venables, was another who proved to be a popular England manager, guiding them to the semi final of Euro 1996 but after him it has been a succession of abject failures appointed by the FA.
Capello of course is no stranger to the wrath of the English press and fans for that matter after England’s woeful performance in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In fairness to the Italian, he does appear to have turned the situation around and England will go to Poland/Ukraine for Euro 2012 as one of the favourites to win.
It is of course what happens after June when Capello, who has reiterated his stance that he, will be leaving no matter how the team performs at the Euro Championships. The FA’s Football Development Director, Sir Trevor Brooking has indicated that he would like to see an Englishman return to the post, but at the same time he has no idea what ‘English’ options the FA will have.
In addition to Redknapp, the only other English names appearing in the betting are England Under 21 coach, Stuart Pearce, Newcastle’s Alan Pardew, Roy Hodgson of West Brom, Steve Coppell who is currently free and Sam Allardyce of West Ham. Even some of the names being linked offer limited appeal and beyond that is less so, although there have been mention of David Beckham taking charge, which would surely divide opinion!
Other the other names being linked, including another none-English appointment, it is interestingly Arsene Wenger who is one of the favourites at odds of 6/1, while newly appointed Sunderland boss, Martin O’Neill comes next at 9/1. It is fair to say that neither of these guys as good as they are at club level would take on the England commitment and names like Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Guus Hiddinck although featuring in the market are not realistic options.
It would appear therefore that the FA has a very difficult task ahead of them come the end of Euro 2012 before the World Cup qualifiers begin in September.
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