Ever since the sacking of Steve McClaren as the coach of the England national football team, the rumour mill has been in full swing. Several names have been thrown into the pot with Jose Mourinho being pushed to the forefront of gaining the reign of the England horse.
Even Fabio Capello, who cannot speak English and is 61 years of age, hasn’t denied that he would be interested in taking up the challenge of managing of the better national teams in Europe. There have been reports that Jurgen Klinsmann, who is based in the US city of California, has been approached too and people are not ruling out Luiz Felipe Scolari either.
But the otherwise inept English FA have come out of the blocks and have denied that any formal approach has been made to any likely candidates for the English. They have of course admitted that they are searching everywhere for a suitable man with character, talent and stamina to be the next guide of England but they have dismissed of having sent any formal offer letters to anyone.
To quote the head of FA Communications Adrian Bevington:
The FA can confirm no individual has been approached by Brian Barwick or Sir Trevor Brooking with regard to being offered the job of next England manager. There is no formal shortlist and no salaries have been discussed with any individual. We have been very clear that Brian and Trevor will consult with figures across the game – and they are already well into that process – before making any such approach or appointment. We are conscious there is a huge level of interest in this and we are trying to be as transparent as possible. Whilst there is no set time frame we are understandably working on this as our number one priority.
But such a statement would hardly convince the English or the European press who have been going on and on about who the next person to take on the most difficult job in football would be. Everyday one name after the other is splashed across the pages; so much so that such rumours have attained the nadir of a cliché.
That the FA are still searching for the best man to handle the national side implies that they are not in too hurry. And they shouldn’t be either. After all it was their ineptitude and hurry that led them to appoint Steve McClaren as the England coach after the departure of Sven-Goran Eriksson immediate to England’s 2006 Germany World Cup quarter-final exit.
The FA appear to have learnt their lessons. Or have they? We shall know after they name the next England coach.
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