Football
ESPN staff 8y

Ex-FA chief 'confident' Arsene Wenger has been approached for England job

Arsene Wenger could already have been asked if he would like to become England's next permanent manager, former Football Association executive director David Davies has said.

The Arsenal manager, who has a contract at the Emirates until the end of the season, said he was "completely focused" on Arsenal when asked about the opportunity to replace Sam Allardyce following the 2-0 Champions League victory against Basel on Wednesday but Davies believes that doesn't have to rule him out of the running.

"I would like to be confident he [Wenger] had been asked, quite straightforwardly, if he would like to be England manager in the near future," Davies told Reuters at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester.

"Not next week, or at Christmas, but when his contract ends, as he would like to fulfil it. They can have a caretaker until then, perhaps Gareth Southgate with an experienced assistant."

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann and Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe are two other names linked but Davies thinks Wenger remains the strongest candidate.

"There are a number of very strong candidates but my instinct tells me they would tend to be the more experienced people," he said.

"It can be a hugely frustrating job, not least because of the gaps between matches. Would Arsene find those gaps frustrating? I don't know the answer to that question -- I only know him a little.

"Arsene knows the English game better than anyone after all the years at Arsenal.

"He would bring many qualities. Firstly, everybody loves Arsene Wenger's teams. You don't have to be a supporter of Arsenal to like watching his teams play.

"Secondly, he is a very shrewd tactician and understands the mentality of the team ethic.

"Now the problem is always... the difference between club football and tournament football; England have not mastered that in recent times.

"Could Arsene master that? It would be for us to see, but he is one of the best prepared managers around. He understands the marginal gains and the little extras that make the difference."

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