Brendan Rodgers next management job could be in charge of the England national team if Roy Hodgson to be replaced.
Rodgers, who is set to take a short break before considering his options, could be one of the prime targets if Hodgson is relieved of his duties after next summer’s European Championship.
Hodgson’s contract expires after the tournament, which takes place in France, and British media claims that Rodgers could be in line to take over. Earlier FA chairman Greg Dyke said a foreign manager could succeed Hodgson, but it is understood that the next man will at least preferably fulfil a ‘home-grown’ criteria. Rumours say if Rodgers is still available and if Hodgson fails to reach the quarter-finals, the ex-Liverpool boss would likely be a favourite to get the England job.
It also opens the door to Northern Irishman Rodgers, Spaniard Roberto Martinez and even Scotsman David Moyes. Arsene Wenger would no doubt be the FA’s dream appointment, but the Frenchman has already turned down the England job in the past. Should the FA decide that the English candidates, Alan Pardew, Garry Monk, Gary Neville and Gareth Southgate, are not ready for the top job, then they will look at managers who have proved they know English football and English players. FA currently judges home-grown players at the club level – they don’t necessarily need to have been born in England to qualify as home-grown, they just have to be trained at an English club.
There is no denying Rodgers’ faith in English players, having nurtured the likes of Jordon Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan at Liverpool. Rodgers also played a key role in the Reds signing Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Danny Ings and James Milner.
Earlier former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard also revealed that his former boss Brendan Rodgers is his favourite to replace Roy Hodgson as the coach of the three lions. The midfielder left the country at the end of last season to try his luck in America with LA Galaxy, bringing to an end of his illustrious career at Anfield. He spent only three seasons under the Northern Irish boss, and although he didn’t win anything in that time, Gerrard believes Rodgers is the ideal candidate to be the next England Manager. The legendary English footballer said, ‘Obviously the way Brendan plays his buttons would suit England. He would improve the possessional football you need at international level. His man management is brilliant. Although his assessment of Rodgers might be questionable, as the only silverware the manager has ever won was the 2011 play-off final with Swansea City. Apart from this he has come close to claiming both the Premiere League and the FA Cup since then.
Whether he has the credentials to lead England is up for debate, with the Ulsterman receiving his marching orders after a 1-1 draw with Everton that left Liverpool 10th in the Premier League. But relieved of the pressure of recruitment, Rodgers could represent a marked improvement on Hodgson.