England manager search: What is the DNA of an international boss?

By Gerard Brand

Image: Roy Hodgson (right) and Luiz Felipe Scolari had contrasting fortunes on the international stage

As England search for their sixth manager since the turn of the century, we ask: what makes a successful international coach?

Is it having a wealth of international playing experience with over 100 caps? Is it being the same nationality as the team? Is it having several major honours under your belt?

As the second day of the England inquest gets under way, the discussion begins to move away from Roy Hodgson and towards his successor, whoever that may be.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn will work with Dan Ashworth and David Gill to select the next England manager

England's defeat by Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016 has them at rock bottom, and though the questioning of mentality, tactics and player pool are valid, the only immediate impact the FA can have is the appointment of a new leader.

Martin Glenn, its chief executive, told the media on Tuesday that they were open to a foreign manager, something England have tested only twice in Sven Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

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"We will be looking for the best person for the job. We will not be ruling any person out," Glenn said.

Who will replace Hodgson?

Who will the FA turn to in order to revive England?

Major tournament winners since 1986

Name Team - Year Age at the time Major honours at time
Carlos Bilardo Argentina - World Cup 1986 47 1
Rinus Michels Netherlands - Euro 1988 60 11
Franz Beckenbauer W Germany - WC 1990 45 None
Richard Moller Nielsen Denmark - Euro 1992 54 3
Carlos Alberto Parreira Brazil - WC 1994 51 1
Berti Vogts Germany - Euro 1996 49 None
Aime Jacquet France - WC 1998 57 5
Roger Lemerre France - Euro 2000 59 None
Luiz Felipe Scolari Brazil - WC 2002 52 7
Otto Rehhagel Greece - Euro 2004 65 7
Marcelo Lippi Italy - WC 2006 58 8
Luis Aragones Spain - Euro 2008 70 5
Vicente Del Bosque Spain - WC 2010 59 4
Vicente Del Bosque Spain - Euro 2012 61 5
Joachim Low Germany - WC 2014 54 2

That direction makes sense, given the lack of obvious English candidates, but what does history tell us about foreign international coaches elsewhere?

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Only one has won a World Cup or European Championship with a foreign nation - German miracle-worker Otto Rehhagel's success with Greece at Euro 2004 - and when looking back at the managers of the last 15 tournament-winning sides in the last 30 years, the CVs make for interesting reading.

Image: Franz Beckenbauer led West Germany to World Cup success in 1990

Going back to Argentina's 1986 World Cup success, the 14 different managers have an average age of 56 at the time they won either the World Cup or Euros, but perhaps more importantly, had won an average of 3.9 major trophies.

In the past 15 tournaments, only three major tournament-winning managers had not won a major honour as a coach before their international success; Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany at World Cup 1990), Berti Vogts (Germany at Euro 1996) and Roger Lemerre (France at Euro 2000). The rest had 59 between them.

And what about their experience of playing at international level? As the likes of Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have shown, it doesn't always matter.

FA chief executive Glenn says 'sorry' to England's fans and that they need to understand why the team is 'brittle' at major tournaments

Of the 14 managers, only two had over 20 senior caps for their country, with five never playing internationally at all.

And the average number of caps for a tournament-winning manager in the last 30 years? Just 17, a figure which would be lower if not for Beckenbauer and Vogts' 199 caps for West Germany between them.

So, who fits that bill for England? Gareth Southgate is the current favourite due to his experience within the FA and England's youth sides, while Harry Redknapp, Gary Neville and former manager Glenn Hoddle are also in the bookies' reckoning.

Would a winter break help?

Arguments for and against a halt midway through the season

You have to dig deep to find the first foreign coaches in the running - the likes of Jurgen Klinsmann, Arsene Wenger, Laurent Blanc and Guus Hiddink.

FA chairman Greg Dyke has expressed his openness to a foreign England boss in the past, saying in 2014: "They wouldn't necessarily have to be English but they certainly would have to understand English football.

"You wouldn't rule out someone who is a Scot or Welsh or French but they would have to understand English football."

Image: Vicente Del Bosque won the World Cup in 2010 and Euro 2012

FA technical director Dan Ashworth will team up with Glenn and David Gill to choose Hodgson's successor in the coming weeks and months ahead of their first World Cup Qualifying match in Slovenia on September 4.

Ashworth released 'England DNA' back in December 2014, described at the time as "the start point for the creation of a world-class approach of elite player development leading to winning England teams."

The first tournament didn't go to plan, but the technical quality of the England squad has arguably improved. Now, the FA must once again find the man to put the pieces together. 

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