Roaring Lions

[shantanu_rooney]

Last Updated:22nd November, 2007
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McClaren sacked as England coach
By Paul Fletcher
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Steve McClaren sacked as England coach​

The Football Association have confirmed the departure of England coach Steve McClaren and his assistant manager Terry Venables.

The FA board convened on Thursday morning after calling an emergency meeting and they wasted little time in confirming the termination of McClaren's contract. McClaren's tenure was brought to an end less than 24 hours after England were knocked out of Euro 2008 at the qualifying stage. England, who only needed a draw against Croatia to seal their place at the finals in Austria & Switzerland, lost 3-2 at Wembley on Wednesday.

McClaren said at a news conference on Thursday that losing the England manager's job was "the saddest day in my career". "Eighteen months ago [when I was appointed] was the proudest day of my career and I was honoured to be the England head coach and for 18 months I've enjoyed every minute.

"It is a sad day to have been relieved of my duties but I understand the decision of the FA. I have huge disappointment for the nation and fans. But I will learn from my failure," added McClaren.

His failure to qualify for Euro 2008 cost him his job, said FA chief executive Brian Barwick. "I spoke to Steve this morning - we get on very well with him. I've had many grown-up conversations and had another one with him this morning - and I can only wish him well. But in the end, not qualifying for Euro 2008 comes up short," said Barwick.

McClaren was contracted up to the World Cup in 2010 - but he will not be seeing out the remaining 33 months of his contract after England's first failure to qualify for the finals of a major tournament since 1994. His reign is the shortest in the history of the English national team.

FA chairman Geoff Thompson said in a statement: "At a meeting of the FA board this morning the FA board unanimously decided to terminate the contract of England head coach Steve McClaren with immediate effect. We have also terminated the contract of assistant Terry Venables, also with immediate effect."

The FA now face the job of appointing a replacement - and given the difficulties they encountered before McClaren accepted the job, it is not a duty which will be taken on with a great deal of enthusiasm.

Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill is sure to be the early favourite - especially because others who were interviewed last time around, including Alan Curbishley and Sam Allardyce, have not built on their reputations since.

The most welcome appointments would be those of former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho or current Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. However, it seems unlikely either man would entertain the prospect of picking up the poisoned chalice - even if they were promised the kind of eye-bulging salary McClaren's predecessor Sven Goran Eriksson used to command.

Alan Shearer and Stuart Pearce will be other names tossed into the frame. But clearly it is an unenviable task for Barwick, who tried, and failed to lure Luiz Felipe Scolari to England last time around.​

 

[OffCutters]

Is this story going to be with FM?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Is this story going to be with FM?

yeah, I am doing this on FM 2009.

 

[blake]

Brilliant writing Shantanu

Keep up the great work.. McLaren never did anything for England, I'm sure if you take over your reign will be far more successful.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last Updated:24th November, 2007
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England Job Contenders
By Paul Fletcher
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Contenders for the England job​

Steve McClaren has been relieved of his England managerial duties and the search for his successor has started. The England job divides opinion - some consider it one of the top international posts, while others see it as a poisoned chalice.

BBC Sport looks at who is in the frame.

1) Jose Mourinho

The England fans would really love the self-proclaimed "Special One" to become the new England manager. The Portuguese is out of job after his Chelsea exit earlier this season and has all the credentials to handle such a mammoth undertaking. But there are suggestions that although he wants to return to management, he would to stay in club football.

2) Martin O'Neill

The Aston Villa manager is, along with Mourinho and early favourite with the bookmakers for the job, but has appeared to rule himself out. He was overlooked in favor of McClaren last summer. O'Neill is famed for the motivation skills, which England are in desperate need of, while his strength of personality and unflinching belief suggest he can more than handle the rigours of the job and players.

3) Harry Redknapp

The work done by Redknapp at Portsmouth have seen him emerge as a viable candidate. He kepts Pompey up against all odds in spectacular fashion in 2005/06 and next season lead them to finish ninth in the league. Redknapp's side play effective and open football, and the fact he is English furthers his cause. But Redknapp's lack of experience at top pf the Premier League and in Europe is likely to count against him.

4) Luiz Feleipe Scolari

The Brazilian World Cup winner has succeeded in leading Portugal to Euro 2008 finals and his sides have knocked England out of the last three major tournaments. He was tipped as the favourite to replace Sevn-Goran Eriksson but Scolari then stated he did not want the job and now he is a firm outsider because the FA won't wait for him until the end of Euro 2008 in the next summer.

5) Mark Hughes

The Blackburn manager has won many admirers for his good works with Wales and Rovers, but his decision to sign a new deal at Ewood Park ends his chances. His side play a physical game with football which is pleasing to the eye and, most of all, they get results.

6) Guus Hiddink

He claims he was offered the job before McClaren but turned it down because he had already agreed to take over Russia. Hiddink has only recently extended his contract with Russia until 2010 and is unlikely to be priced away from his role until after leading their challenge at Euro 2008.

7) Alan Shearer

Shearer has no managerial experience and would be a wild-card appointment. The former Newcastle striker does have a track record of producing the goods as a player on the international stage and is likely to have the respect of the players. But he can take the example of Jurgen Klinsmann taking over as Germany boss without any previous experience and leading his country to semi-finals of last year's World Cup.

8) Fabio Capello

The Italian is currently out of the game but is reserved for the success they have enjoyed. Capello lead Real Madrid to the Spanish league title last season before leaving the club during the summer. Capello has also stated his ambition to take the job but their defensive style of play could rule him out of the running.​

 

[OffCutters]

I reckon Mourinho will get the job, he is a legend of a coach , mate love the updates, teriffic story.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last Updated:27th November, 2007
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Mourinho doesn't want England job
By Paul Fletcher
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Mourinho former Chelsea boss​

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho does not want to succeed Steve McClaren as the next England manager, BBC Sports understands.

Mourinho, 44, has been out of football ever since leaving Stamford Bridge in September but is believed to be waiting for a club rather than a national post. Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill, Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce and West Ham's Alan Curbishley have all said they are committed to their clubs. But ex-Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello is interested. And Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp has not ruled himself out.

Radio 5 Live's football correspondent Jonathan Legard said, "Mourinho is champing at the bit to return to football management. But not a for a job that allows him to work with the players which he does well only a couple of times every few months. A national job even such as a special post like England, would only appeal at a later stage in his career and that would only be the Portugal job. Most attractive thing for the former Chelsea boss at the moment is working with a top European club and he is waiting for that."

The Football Association's chief executive Brian Barwick has begun his search for a replacement for McClaren, who was sacked on Thursday after England failed to reach Euro 2008. England's next scheduled match is in August next year, and its a friendly against Czech Republic at the Wembley. The next competitive match will be the opening encounter of the 2010 World Cup campaign in September, with the draw for the qualifying groups taking place on Sunday.​

 

[OffCutters]

Since Mourinho is ruled out i`m going for Fabio Capello

 

[hedger_14]

ill go with alan shearer as coach lol

 

[shantanu_rooney]

England face Croatia again
29th November, 2007

2010 World Cup qualifying draw for England​

England have been paired with Euro 2008 nemesis Croatia in the qualifying draw for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Three Lions are in Group 6 and will also tackle Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra. England were beaten home and away by Slaven Bilic's men in their miserable Euro 2008 campaign with Steve McClaren having his contract as manager terminated less than 12 hours after the 3-2 reverse at Wembley.

Scotland are in Group 9 and will come up against Holland, Norway, Macedonia and Iceland on the road to South Africa. Wales are again paired with Germany, who they drew 0-0 with in their final Euro 2008 qualifier, and also face Russia, Finland, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein in Group 4.

Northern Ireland, who came so close to qualifying for Euro 2008, are in Group 3 along with Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino. Republic of Ireland face reigning champions Italy in Group 8 and must also meet Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro.

Group 1 has Portugal as the top seeds and they must overcome Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania and Malta. Reigning European champions Greece, who pushed England out of the leading pot of seeds, are in Group 2 alongside Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg.

France, beaten in the 2006 World Cup final, meet Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria and Faroe Islands in Group 7. And Group 5 contains Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia and Estonia. The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup finals with the eight best runners-up going into a two-legged play-off for the remaining four spots.

Group 1

Portugal
Sweden
Denmark
Hungary
Albania
Malta

Group 2

Greece
Israel
Switzerland
Moldova
Latvia
Luxembourg

Group 3

Czech Republic
Poland
Northern Ireland
Slovakia
Slovenia
San Marino

Group 4

Germany
Russia
Finland
Wales
Azerbaijan
Liechtenstein

Group 5

Spain
Turkey
Belgium
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Armenia
Estonia

Group 6

Croatia
England
Ukraine
Belarus
Kazakhstan
Andorra

Group 7

France
Romania
Serbia
Lithuania
Austria
Faroe Islands

Group 8

Italy
Bulgaria
Republic of Ireland
Cyprus
Georgia
Montenegro

Group 9

Holland
Scotland
Norway
Macedonia
Iceland​

 

[hedger_14]

ok im tipping on the top 2 from each group.
group 1:
1st: Portugal
2nd: Sweden
group 2:
1st: Switzerland
2nd: Greece
group 3:
1st: Czech
2nd: Poland
group 4:
1st: Germany
2nd: Russia
group 5:
1st: Spain
2nd: Belgium
group 6:
1st: Ukraine
2nd: Croatia
6th: England
nah england 2nd
group 7:
1st: France
2nd: Romania
group 8:
1st: Italy
2nd: Rep. Ireland
group 9:
1st: Holland
2nd: Norway

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last Updated:4th January, 2008
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Lippi named as new England coach
By Paul Fletcher
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Marcello Lippi the new England coach​

Marcello Lippi has been named as the new England manager after the details of his contract were finalized. The Italian world cup winner has signed a four-year contract worth ?6m a year, with an opt out after 2010.

The former Juventus, Inter and Italy coach will succeed former Middlesbrough Steve McClaren, who was sakced a day after England failed to qualify for the finals of EURO 2008 in Austria-Switzerland. Lippi, 60, will be unveiled at a news conference at 1200 GMT on Monday before taking up the role in August.

His backroom staff is all Italian but he is to consider how to integrate an English presence into the set-up. England under-21 coach Stuart Pearce was smong those seen arriving at FA's headquarters in London on Friday. Alan Shearer, David Platt, Tony Adams and Glen Hoddle have also linked with a role in Lippi's team. His backroom staff consist of assistant manager Ciro Ferrara and goalkeeper coach Sergio Buso.

The FA revelead that Lippi was the number one choice and was the only man to be formally interviewed for the post, which became vacant when Steve McClaren was sacked. "Lippi is a true winner. He is a world cup winner and his record over past two decades speaks for itself. He has won many titles during his time as a club manager and as we know he has also led Italy to win the World Cup in 2006. I was left in no doubt of his passion and commitment to bring that success to the England team." said FA chielf executive Brian Barwick.

Lippi's first game in charge will be the friendly against Czech Republic at Wembley on 20 August and with England failing to qualify for the EURO 2008, his first competitive game will be a World Cup qualifier against Andorra on 6 September.

Lippi had expressed his interest in the England job just days after McClaren's departure in November and he described the as a "very beautiful challenge". He has a very impressive CV and also has the backing of some great football luminaries as Sir Alex Ferguson, Gianfranco Zola, Paolo Maldini, and Diego Maradona.

The Italian has picked a total of thirteen silverwares with Juventus which includes five Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana, one Champions League, one European Supercup and one Intercontinental Cup. He has also led Italy to win the Fifa World Cup in Germany 2006.​