Last month current England manager Fabio Capello confirmed that he will leave his post and probably the game after the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine in 2012.
The Italian, who will be 66 in two years, said he wants to live his later days ‘like a pensioner’ and he will be ready to put his feet up.
His tenure as The Three Lions coach has been somewhat turbulent after watching his beleaguered side crash out of the World Cup finals in the summer.
Capello’s toothless men were bundled out at the second round stage by fierce rivals Germany, who waltzed to a 4-1 triumph.
But he has enjoyed a fine start to the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with back-to-back victories over Bulgaria (4-0) and Switzerland (3-1).
With the former Real Madrid and Juventus coach’s plans known to Football Association chiefs, they have suggested his successor will be an Englishman.
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So, the FA bigwigs now have the best part of two years to sift their way through a number of candidates who could fill the soon-to-be void.
They will be keen to avoid the same mistakes that were made in 2006 when a seeming knee-jerk reaction saw Steve McClaren appointed in 2006.
But who should be given the nod in the summer of 2012? We will take a look at a few possible replacements.
Stuart Pearce – The former lionhearted England full-back certainly has the passion and fire to take the hot-seat, but after less than impressive spells at Nottingham Forest and Manchester City in the past, is Pearce really the man?
In his defence, his recent experiences as England Under-21 boss and acting as Capello’s assistant has earned him respect and he may well be the natural choice to win the right to lead the country ahead of the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014.
Roy Hodgson – The beleaguered Liverpool manager may be knocking on, but after managing Switzerland, Finland, Udinese and Internazionale, Hodgson has been around the block a few times.
Described as wily and shrewd, the 63-year-old would love to have a crack at the national team. Will the FA turn to him? That remains to be seen.
Harry Redknapp – The Tottenham Hotspur boss has came into his own in recent times and, after guiding the Londoners to the Champions League for the first time in their history, he appears to be giving himself a chance.
But with controversy surrounding the former West Ham United and Portsmouth manager, would the FA make a move for the man dogged by corruption allegations?
Steve Bruce – Slowly but surely, the Sunderland manager has built a team capable of challenging in the upper echelons of the Premier League.
He is getting the best out of England striker Darren Bent this season, but despite winning countless trophies at Manchester United during his playing days, he is yet to win any silverware with the Black Cats.
