Potential replacements for Roy Hodgson as England manager.
Whilst Roy Hodgson is currently doing a solid job as England manager, talk is already surrounding the identity of the man who will replace the former Liverpool boss, whether after Euro 2016 or beyond, with current Under 21 manager Gareth Southgate having been strongly linked with the position.
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Southgate is unlikely to be the only contender, however, with these six men being some of those we would consider if, for some reason, we were put in charge of selecting the next England manager:
Brendan Rodgers (Liverpool)
Some voices have suggested that Liverpool’s Northern Irish boss could be the ideal man to replace Hodgson, with his focus on youth and fluid, modern style of football. Whether Rodgers would see the England job as a step up from Anfield, however, is unlikely, unless he finds himself divorced from the club in the future, whilst there could be some controversy around a Northern Irishman taking the job.
Sean Dyche (Burnley)
The most exciting young English manager right now is probably Burnley boss Sean Dyche, who led the Clarets back into the Premier League last season despite relatively meagre resources and a squad that was largely unfancied in the Championship. The former Watford manager will need to prove his strips further, either at Turf Moor or elsewhere, but he could be an impressive figure in a couple of years’ time.
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
This is a leftfield suggestion, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has three years remaining on his latest Arsenal deal and, having served in the hotseat at the Emirates Stadium for so long, it is becoming more likely that his time in North London could be coming to an end in the near future. Wenger would be an ideal man to oversee the development of English football from the position of England manager, being so deeply rooted in the country’s footballing culture and with a proven track record in developing young talent.
Gareth Southgate (England Under 21s)
The current England Under 21 manager has been linked with the position of full-time manager once Roy Hodgson moves on, having done an excellent job since taking over as Under 21 boss, guiding the young charges to next summer’s European Championship in the Czech Republic after a comfortable play-off win over Croatia.
Roberto Martinez (Everton)
Another foreign manager, but one who is indoctrinated into English football culture having played for the likes of Wigan Athletic, Swansea City and Chester, Martinez has done a wonderful job with Everton and is known for his entertaining style of football and nurturing of young players, two things that seem to be high on the list of things people want from their Three Lions boss.
Nigel Pearson (Leicester City)
Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has done a fine job at the King Power Stadium, leading them from League One to the Premier League either side of a short stint at Hull City, whilst he is also known for his embracing of modern technology and training methods. An English manager who has earned his stripes, a couple of fine seasons in the East Midlands could propel him to the top of this shortlist.