After England’s humiliating loss to Iceland at the Euro 2016 in France, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has emerged as the country’s number one target to be the national coach following Roy Hodgson’s resignation on Monday.
Provided Wenger does not extend his contract with the Gunners, he is most likely to take charge once his contract ends next summer.
England are reported to be willing to wait until 2017 to appoint the Frenchman in the role, filling the post in the meantime with an interim boss.
The long-serving Gunners coach has been Arsenal manager for almost 20 years but English officials see him as the best choice.
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.
Glenn, alongside FA director of elite development Dan Ashworth and FA vice-chairman David Gill, are heading up the committee which will appoint Hodgson’s long-term successor.
At the press conference, Glenn mentioned that England ideally would like to have a new man in place for the start of World Cup qualifying in September, but didn’t rule out the possibility of an interim boss, nor a new foreign coach.
“A process for find a new manager is underway. We’re going to harness wisdom and opinion from the wider game. It’s really important that we get this right, to get in a position where we can build on the strength we’ve got.
“We’d like to get one in (a manager) for the first World Cup qualifier, but if we won’t we have an interim plan in mind,” he said.
Gareth Southgate has been talked up as the likely man to come in as interim coach, but Wenger has now emerged as the man who could take the post long-term.
Asked if the interim manager would be Southgate, Glenn added: “We are not talking about names today but it would be a pretty obvious one to pick.
Aside from Wenger, Claudio Ranieri, Steve Bruce, Eddie Howe, Sam Allardyce, David Moyes and Slaven Bilic could be considered.
England face Slovakia in September in World Cup qualifying, followed by group games against Malta and Slovenia.