FA 'getting close' to appointing new England manager, says chief exec

FA bosses are 'getting close' to appointing a new England manager, says its chief executive.
Martin Glenn. Picture by PA.Martin Glenn. Picture by PA.
Martin Glenn. Picture by PA.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce and ex-Sunderland and now Hull Hull City boss Steve Bruce have both been interviewed about succeeding Roy Hodgson, who resigned after England dramatically crashed out of Euro 2016 with a defeat by minnows Iceland.

"We've consulted widely in the game and spoken to a handful of people," Martin Glenn told BBC. "The new manager's got to be someone who can inspire people."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Glenn said the new England manager will need to "build resilience" in players so they can deal flak on social media and cope with the pressures of an "intensely passionate" media.

He said: "The British press, like it or not, are probably the most intensely passionate about the game in the world and that has a spill-over effect. The consequence of which is people probably play not to make a mistake, as opposed to play to win.

"So the new manager's got to be someone who can inspire people to get the best out of themselves, build resilience and unashamedly adopt the kind of psychological techniques that other sports and other football teams have done, but really to inspire people that when they put their England jersey on they play as well for England as they do for their club."

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe and USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann have also been linked with the vacant England role - with one report in The Daily Telegraph claiming another "mystery candidate" has also been interviewed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, in a separate interview with Sky News, Glenn said tomorrow's FA board meeting would be too soon to make a recommendation on who should get the job.

Glenn is heading up a three-man selection panel, alongside FA technical director Dan Ashworth and vice-chairman David Gill.

"Everyone we've spoken to about the job is massively enthusiastic about the prospects for England," said Glenn.

"We're not after a short-term mercenary, someone just to do the job for a couple of years. I want someone to come in to the England role to really work with not just the senior team but to make sure all the great work with the Under-16s, 17s, 18s - look at how well the Under-19s are doing now - and to knit all that together.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We want someone to do a great job for the England national team but as well make sure all the development teams are laddering up to something more effective."

He added: "It's only been three weeks since the hunt started...we're making good progress and we're clear about what we're looking for. We're pretty encouraged about what we've seen.

"It's the manager of the England national team, we've got to get that right and got to make sure we've covered all various alternatives as best we can.

"I can't be specific on timetable, we just want the right choice."