England manager: Arsene Wenger & Mauricio Pochettino open to role

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England manager: Wenger, Pochettino, Howe and Pardew on vacant position

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Tottenham counterpart Mauricio Pochettino say they are open to managing England in the future.

The Football Association is searching for a new England boss following Sam Allardyce's departure after 67 days.

Asked about taking the job, Wenger, 66, said: "One day, if I'm free, why not?" Pochettino, 44, said: "Yes, why not? In the future."

Both said they are committed to their current clubs.

Allardyce, who replaced Roy Hodgson following England's disappointing Euro 2016, left by mutual agreement on Tuesday after the Daily Telegraph claimed he offered advice on how to "get around" rules on player transfers.

Allardyce won his only game in charge, a 1-0 victory over Slovakia in their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier in September.

England Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate will take charge of the senior team for the next four matches, including three World Cup qualifiers, starting with Malta at Wembley (8 October), Slovenia away (11 October), Scotland at home (11 November) and Spain in a friendly (15 November).

Southgate could be an option for the permanent role depending on his success, while Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew and ex-Hull City manager Steve Bruce have also been mentioned as candidates.

Frenchman Wenger is the longest-serving - and most successful - overseas manager in England, having won 15 trophies during his 20-year tenure at Arsenal, including three Premier League titles and six FA Cups.

Arsenal, who are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions this season, play Burnley on Sunday at 16:30 BST aiming for a fifth consecutive Premier League victory.

Pochettino has earned a reputation as one of the brightest managerial talents in English football.

The 44-year-old Argentine led Southampton to eighth spot in the Premier League in 2012-13 before moving to Spurs in 2014.

Last season, he took Tottenham back into the Champions League with automatic qualification from a third-placed league finish.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche, 44, ruled himself out of contention for the England job because of a lack of experience.

"If you want to build a chance of being good at that kind of level, you need more years and layers of experience," he said.

"In the future, who knows? Maybe. But at the moment I think there are people better placed than me."

Analysis - 'Wenger the perfect manager for England'

BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty

The Arsenal manager's credentials easily outstrip those of the other candidates being touted as Allardyce's replacement.

At 66, Wenger might even share Allardyce's view when he was appointed that his age and experience make him the perfect fit for international management.

Wenger is the perfect next England manager with the ideal credentials and track record if the FA can formulate a plan to somehow attract him to what many now call an impossible job.

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185 comments

  • Comment posted by nozzie, at 15:42 30 Sep 2016

    England dont need a manager.

    they need a coach.

    managers are so used to buying the players they need when one doesn't perform at a club level. you can't do that in international football!

    so we need the best coach available to work with the players.

    one who isn't afraid to drop "big" names and one who will find a TEAM balance rather the the best INDIVIDUALS at their position

  • Comment posted by CaptainSlow81, at 15:57 30 Sep 2016

    What is the point of a hys on this article? Even my mum said she would consider the job in the future once she has finished her 10000 piece jigsaw.

  • Comment posted by Abadacus, at 15:52 30 Sep 2016

    I would love Pochettino as England manager (Southampton fan). His sides play fantastic football, he's all about youth development, getting rid of deadwood and creating an actual team. Players love him and fight for him. For all these reasons, sadly the FA probably wouldn't appoint him though.

    Oh and as for the whole "the manager must be English" thing, well look where that got us.

  • Comment posted by J3YB33, at 15:32 30 Sep 2016

    Why would they want to destroy their careers? Wenger has a great legacy at Arsenal, and Pochettino has a fantastic opportunity to build one with Spurs. Why anyone would want to manage the national team with so much corruption and inaction at board level is beyond me!

    However, if they insist, as long as Rooney never plays for England, then I'm good with that.

  • Comment posted by Enjoy Yourself, at 16:00 30 Sep 2016

    We need someone that's cleaner than clean according to the FA.

    I suggest Barry Scott!

  • Comment posted by Monster Munch, at 15:36 30 Sep 2016

    Wenger has managed in England for twenty years, he probably knows our game better than just about anyone at the top level. His teams have generally played effective attacking football that is easy on the eye, his credentials as a coach are impressive. If the FA can persuade him to become England manager I would be both surprised and happy, it would be a step forward from previous appointments.

  • Comment posted by Steve, at 16:12 30 Sep 2016

    I cannot understand how you claim Arsenal are unbeaten in their first eight matches in all competitions , didn't the 4 - 3 loss at home to Liverpool on the first day of the season count ?

  • Comment posted by U16115807, at 15:58 30 Sep 2016

    I doesn't matter who does the job and recent history proves that

    There is too much interference from the FA and too little enthusiasm from the players

    Until there is fundamental change at the FA and success for the team becomes a priority over 'famous' players and advertising revenues, no-one will succeed in the manager's job

  • Comment posted by U16602093, at 15:36 30 Sep 2016

    Dear FA

    Please consider me for position of (temporary) England football manager.

    I have not won anything, I can talk drivel and jargon, I look good in a blazer or a sponsored tracksuit.

    I am better at penalties than GS, tactics than KK, not quite as strange as GH or as useless as RH.

    I would prefer my payoff in unmarked notes in an holdall emblazoned with swag on it.

    Thanks

  • Comment posted by Old Father Thames, at 17:03 30 Sep 2016

    Practical Idea:
    Let the fans decide on the next manager by public vote

    Radical Idea:
    Let the fans decide on the next manager by
    Lets the fans choose the squad
    Let the fans decide the formations and player positions

    Extreme Idea:
    Let the fans have input to the team talk
    Let the fans choose substitutions

    Crazy Idea:
    Let the FA continue to pick managers

  • Comment posted by Noble, at 16:01 30 Sep 2016

    14. nozzie
    "England dont need a manager - they need a coach."

    I totally agree.

    Why is the FA obsessed with recruiting a club manager when the role is so different?

    The England manager does not have day today access to the same team. He sees them once in a while and has to gel a mixed bunch of players from different clubs.

    The FA needs to find someone who best fits that need

  • Comment posted by Johnnythunder, at 20:33 30 Sep 2016

    126. Glen

    There it is folks. Soak it up. The peak of Glen's one man Tottenham supporting band's resoundingly logical argument why Arsenal are inferior inside his infinitesimally sociable bubble

  • Comment posted by U15945885, at 15:35 30 Sep 2016

    Whatever you think of Wenger, he seems to be an intelligent man. Why on earth would he have any interest in the England job?

    He would have players of limited talent who are, at best, ambivalent towards the England team and a media that actively undermines the team in order to sell newspapers.

    Why would he need all that?

  • Comment posted by Alan the Second, at 18:30 30 Sep 2016

    I'm done with football. What is the point? You can't trust what you're watching due to corruption, it's extortionate to watch it live or at home and England are an international embarrassment.

    I'd rather just play it with my mates and have a laugh than sit in the pub listening to deluded fans of rival clubs get taken for a ride every week.

  • Comment posted by U16562679, at 16:24 30 Sep 2016

    Unfortunately, anyone other than a traditional style English manager will probably get heavily criticised.

    We just don't seem to have enough young home-grown talent in the game and we really should have.

  • Comment posted by Jack Regan, at 23:16 30 Sep 2016

    If you're going to appoint a foreign manager get Joachim Loew. He has actually managed a national team and is rather good at it.

  • Comment posted by Come the Glorious Day, at 19:31 30 Sep 2016

    Looks like Wenger and Pochettino are negotiating new contracts.

    Having slagged off Wenger for 5 years McNulty looks for other ways to make Liverpool a top 4 team.

  • Comment posted by Killingholme_Clay , at 17:25 30 Sep 2016

    Just so long as they drop the fat lad with the armband, I don't mind who it is.

  • Comment posted by Sergio9320, at 16:30 30 Sep 2016

    No English good enough.

    Mancini - Won in England with English players in his team. Wants things his own way, FA says no.

    Pochettino - Great young coach but don't think he's won anything yet.

    Wenger - Good experience of the English game but tellingly doesn't seem to fancy English players.

    Ranieri - Won the league with limited resources by getting the best out of limited players. He wins

  • Comment posted by tommygun, at 23:03 30 Sep 2016

    95. Posted by Britishcomradeatarms

    4th place in a tournament would be much more desirable than being knocked out by a team where the keeper is a film director and the assistant manager is a dentist.

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