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Following Roy Hodgson’s resignation after England crashed out of Euro 2016 in humiliating circumstances against Iceland, the FA are looking likely to appoint England Under 21 manager Gareth Southgate as head coach of the national side on an interim basis.
The former Middlesbrough manager, who recently guided the Under 21 side to victory at the Toulon tournament in France, has been working with the England set up for some time, and has been touted as one of the favourites to replace Hodgson on a permanent basis.
But FA chief executive, Martin Glenn, suggested the search for a permanent manager could take months.
Glenn, who was asked if Southgate could take charge for the opening World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in September, said: “We’ll see.
“We’d like to get one for the first World Cup qualifier, but if we don’t we have an interim plan in mind.
“We are not talking about names but it would be a pretty obvious one to pick.
Glenn, who will lead the FA selection process alongside board members David Gill and technical director Dan Ashworth, also haven’t ruled out another foreign manager to take the helm, with Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger widely linked to the vacant role.
Glenn said: “It’s such an important decision. We have got to get the right person. To wait a few months – if that’s what we had to do – would be the right decision.
“You might get a few interim solutions, where a few managers come to help.”
Whatever conclusion the FA come to, England fans across the country will be hoping it’s the right one. The Three Lions won just three out of eleven games in major tournament finals under Hodgson, and haven’t reached the semi-final of a major tournament since England hosted Euro 1996.
Southgate has had success at Under 21 level, but what do England need? Do they need a young, passionate and hungry English manager – with the likes of Eddie Howe also linked – or do they need experience in management, something that Roy Hodgson had however, but failed to deliver. We’ll wait and see.
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