The Football Association are prepared to wait 12 months and go foreign in their search for Roy Hodgson’s successor as England manager. Chief executive Martin Glenn said he is determined to appoint ‘the best man for the job’ as the FA chase the seemingly impossible dream of winning the World Cup by 2022. Intriguingly, Arsene Wenger, 66, who ticks all the boxes for the FA, enters the final year of his Arsenal contract on Friday, so he will be available next summer.
Glenn said the three-man panel — which also includes Dan Ashworth, the FA director of elite development, and FA vice-chairman David Gill — formed to appoint Hodgson’s replacement, will consult with various football figures. It is a process that is sure to include Wenger. Glenn revealed a plan to appoint an interim manager if their preferred candidate is not available.
That role is likely to be offered to current England Under 21 boss Gareth Southgate, who has reportedly been approached about taking the job on a short-term basis but was on Tuesday night unsure about stepping up.
The possibility that Wenger may take over is likely to excite supporters following the abysmal Euro 2016 campaign under Hodgson, who resigned following England’s humiliating 2-1 defeat by Iceland on Monday night.
He fits the criteria set by Glenn. Wenger, despite his recent troubles at the Emirates, has a proven track record as well as an encyclopaedic knowledge of Premier League players. However, the board at Arsenal may yet seek to extend his contract, particularly if they have a successful season.