Sven-Goran Eriksson Urges FA To Consider Jose Mourinho

Sven-Goran Eriksson has urged the FA to approach Jose Mourinho as coach when Fabio Capello resigns. The national team’s coach is one the hardest jobs in football and one where many managers have failed to get the best out of the players.

The Swede insists the special one has more than the correct qualities to succeed as England Manager and would like to see the Portuguese man at the helm. Eriksson himself enjoyed a successful spell as England manager guiding the Three Lions to a quarter-final place in the World Cup where they lost to Brazil in 2002.

Jose Mourinho, who is now boss of Real Madrid, helped guide Chelsea in winning two Premier League titles and the FA Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Jose was a candidate for the England job, absolutely not," the Leicester boss was quoted as saying in several national newspapers.

"Do you think the discussion that you must be English to be the England manager is still going on? I don't think so.

"Nobody would complain if England were to take Mourinho. I think what he has done during the last 10 years makes him perhaps the best, or one of the best, managers around.

"When he's finished at Real he won't be short of offers, so why not? If you've tried English football, you love it, whether you are a player, coach or manager.

"If you've been working in football in England, then leave for another country, it's not the same. So, I understand Jose wants to come back."

Image Credit Flickr User Kate_Lokteva

Gary Speed Appointed Wales Manager

The Welsh Football Association has announced that Gary Speed has taken up the vacant position as the National team coach, Speed’s club Sheffield United gave the Welsh FA permission to speak with Speed and the former international player was selected ahead of Chris Coleman, John Hartson, Brian Flynn and former Sweden manager Lars Largerback to the position.

Gary Speed’s only management positon has come within the last four months at Sheffield United, many will feel that he may lack experience at coaching level and Speed's first task will be to help get Wales off the foot of their Euro 2012 qualifying group.

Speaking on his appointment, he said: "It's something that's very difficult to turn down when your country comes calling. I'm a very proud man at this moment to be asked to be the manager of Wales."

On Leaving from Bramall Lane, he said: "These things happen in football, where the timing's not always great.

"I was disappointed to leave Sheffield United because I feel I had a job to do there and was fully committed but obviously when your country comes calling it's a tough decision you have to make. I feel in my heart it's the right one.

"To be fair to them they've been fantastic throughout and made the decision really easy for me.

"I'd like to thank Sheffield United for the opportunity I've been given there both as a coach under Kevin Blackwell and then as a manager."

FA want Harry Redknapp after 2012

FA would like Redknapp to succeed Capello

The Football Association have put Spurs manager Harry Redknapp at the top of their wanted list, current England manager Fabio Capello has said that he doesn't want to continue past the European Championship 2012 when his contract runs out.

It has been no secret that Harry Redknapp would be the FA's ideal replacement to succeed Capello and Redknapp’s success over the last two seasons have improved his chances, having seen Spurs claim fourth place in Premier League last season, qualifying for Champions League football and beating current Champions League holders Inter Milan, both home and away advancing to the second phase of the tournament.

"Harry Redknapp is a great manager," said the FA's general secretary, Alex Horne.

"Tottenham are playing great football and to qualify for the Champions League (knockout stage) from a position of being fourth favourites in the group is huge testimony to that. I would expect Harry to make a long-list (for the England job). It may not be a very long long-list."

Horne said nothing has been discussed in regards to appointing the successor to Capello,

"He's there until 2012, which gives me 18, 19 months to prepare for that process. It is not a policy decision that (the contenders) would be English. It is an absolute preference for certain individuals. It is not yet a board policy decision," said Horne.

"We thought about this long and hard when we got Fabio Capello. We got the right man for the job and that is what we will do again."

After England’s World Cup humiliation in South Africa, Club England's managing director, Adrian Bevington, strongly suggested the next manager would be English.

Bevington, who is overseeing a review as to what went wrong at the 2010 World Cup, said: "I think the English team should be managed by an English manager."

However, Horne told the BBC that was not set in stone: "It is not a policy decision that they will definitely be English. I will be finalising the selection-process criteria during the first few months of next year for internal discussion."

Redknapp has already said this year that he would take the job if offered, when Capello steps down.

"People will always take it because, if you're English, it's the pinnacle of your career if you're in management," said Redknapp, whose credentials have been enhanced by Spurs' performances.

Roger Burden condemns Fifa

Acting Football Association chairman Roger Burden has admitted that he will not run for the full-time role in protest at Fifa's World Cup bidding process.

Burden stepped into the job on a temporary basis following Lord Triesman's sudden departure in May and had indicated that he wanted to stay on.

Roger Burden has confirmed he will not run for the position following the events in Zurich, the acting FA chairman admitted in his position he would need to work with Fifa members, whom he cannot trust now, but he will remain as acting chairman until a successor is found.

Russia was announced on Thursday as the nation to hold the 2018 World Cup with Qatar taking the 2022 World Cup, England went out in the first round after just receiving two votes from committee members, including one from Geoff Thompson, former chairman of the Football Association and current Uefa and Fifa vice-president, this has outraged Roger Burden..

The acting FA chairman released a statement saying, “It is difficult to believe that the voting was an objective process,"

"I had applied for the position of chairman. I recognise that an important part of the role is liaison with Fifa, our global governing body.

"I am not prepared to deal with people whom I cannot trust and I have withdrawn my candidacy."

Speaking on Russian winning and England’s own bid, he added;

"I have no issue with Russia's winning bid. I am sure they will put on a great World Cup and I have congratulated them," Burden said.

"We were equal top of Fifa's own technical assessment of the four bids. We were top of an independent assessment of the best commercial bids and our presentation on Thursday was widely acclaimed as the best of the 2018 and 2022 bids.

"Against this background, I am struggling to understand how we only achieved two votes.

"On top of that, Prince William, the Prime Minister and other members of our delegation were promised votes that did not materialise.”

Burden ruled out that it was the British media who was to blame after allegations of corruption was made by the Sunday Times and the BBC's Panorama programme

"I am well aware that some of the UK media coverage could have upset some of the Fifa executive committee," he said.

”We have a free press in our country and we all have to live with adverse comment from time to time."