The FA gave done it again, as they seem to have surprised everybody by appointing Roy Hodgson as the new England manager.
Roy Hodgson – new England manager?
Roy is extremely experienced, there’s no doubt about that, and he has already managed three countries in International play – Switzerland, United Arab Republic and Finland.
Hodgson has also managed around 15 different club sides in his 36 years in football management, including Inter-Milan, Blackburn, Fulham, Liverpool and West Brom.
This is the news today in most of the papers, although the English FA have not made any formal announcement yet on the actual appointment.
This was the only statement put out yesterday by the FA on their web-site:
West Bromwich Albion have today granted permission for The FA to speak with Roy Hodgson regarding the position of England Manager.
This follows an approach from FA Chairman David Bernstein to West Bromwich Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace.
David Bernstein said:
“I’m grateful to Jeremy and all at West Bromwich Albion for their co-operation in allowing us to approach Roy, who I have since spoken with.”
“Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set-out soon after Fabio Capello’s departure.”
“Further conversations will now take place with Roy and my Club England colleagues before any further announcements can be made.”
Most English fans had expected Harry Redknapp to be appointed, but it seems that FA have chosen the cheaper option, with Roy’s contract running out in June, and Harry has one more year left on his deal at Tottenham.
Rumors were that Tottenham would have demanded significant compensation if Harry was appointed the England manager, but Hodgson is the only person the FA have approached, and he spent four hours in meetings yesterday.
The English players had probably been expecting Harry to have been appointed, so it is now up to Roy to pick a squad for the European Championships that take place in Poland and the Ukraine this summer, and England’s first game is against France on June 11th – the first match of Group D.
Other countries in Group D include host country Ukraine and Switzerland, a country Roy once managed.
The news today is that former Newcastle manager and current Birmingham boss, Chris Hughton, is the favorite to take over at West Brom.
But Chris has Birmingham in the Championship play-offs in 4th position on 76 points, and if the Londoner can get Birmingham promoted, he may want to stay at Birmingham.
But Chris has again showed himself to be an excellent manager this season, getting Birmingham high up in the league table, after he had lost so many of his players when he was appointed last summer.
There are exactly six weeks to go before England’s first game, so you cannot accuse the FA of not appointing a manager soon enough. 😀
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
Indian Magpie
May 1, 2012 at 8:14 AM
Comment #1I read the title of the article and thought “AND”
Indian Magpie
May 1, 2012 at 8:15 AM
Comment #2ED ED ED – what the hell is “United Arab Republic”
its Emirates
Indian Magpie
May 1, 2012 at 8:17 AM
Comment #3For some other readers Vut = But and chowed = showed
Graeme
May 1, 2012 at 8:20 AM
Comment #4Roy has “been there, done that”
He’s squeeky clean, has non of the baggage ‘Appy ‘Arry would bring with him, making him a much better prospect for the FA.
The other substantial consideration is that Roy is out of Contract at the end of June, which makes him very CHEAP for the FA to bring in as no compensation is due to WBA!!!! Obviously that would have NO bearing as far as the FA is concerned lol
Tsunki
May 1, 2012 at 8:35 AM
Comment #5New Improved and above all our Cheapest Yet! Try our most recent version of English Manager – same as any other English manager but different. Will win & lose the same amount of games as any foreign version but at a fraction of the cost! No need for messy interpreters! Can be ridiculed form the very start! Comes with Redknapp Comparison Chart! Limited stocks of European Experience version so hurry while stocks last – do not interview other managers, who are all a bit dodgy any way! New Square Deal Hodgson – Better the Devil You Know!
pbNcl
May 1, 2012 at 8:42 AM
Comment #6Would very much like to see hughton at brom, instead of birmingham, who have horrible marlon king on their books. I don’t like that man very much at all
Couldn’t give a hoot about england, I’ve learned my lesson. All the same crap, nay little flags out for me this time round. Might support the french
spitfire_
May 1, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Comment #7At least finally in Newcastle will came the national manager… For Redknapp everything above Manchester is dead.
Lee Dodd
May 1, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Comment #8At Last We have a Manager That is English and is Honest. He will Know all The England Players so at Least that Is Good . Just Hope They Dont Let Him down. We may even get an English Player from Newcastle Now Like Steven Taylor or Mike Williamson… Feel Sorry For Stuart Pearce he should have been the Man Really or is it you have to be over 60 for the Job so thats another 10 years for him … AT least We Kept Alan Pardew …. Man City Watch Out 52000 Geordies will be on your Case !!!!!!!!!
Robby Bobson
May 1, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Comment #9International managerial experience:
Hodgson: Yes Redknapp: No
Experience managing big name players:
Hodgson: Yes Redknapp: No
Experience on the continenet:
Hodgson: Yes Redknapp: No
Biggest club managed:
Hodgson: Inter Milan (x2) Redknapp: Spurs
Hmmm, no contest was it really. Glad the FA ignored the Harry loving media. Hes a dirty crook who smiles to the cameras and has the media sucking up to him.
OTP
May 1, 2012 at 6:31 PM
Comment #10Yea post #9 got it spot it on lol. http://one-touch-passing.blogspot.co.uk/ has a bit of history and what to expect from Hodgson.