Glenn Hoddle the man to replace Roy Hodgson as England boss, Peter Taylor says

By Dev Trehan

Former FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick believes the organisation should take their time over appointing a new England manager

Glenn Hoddle is the ideal candidate to replace Roy Hodgson, according to former England U21 manager Peter Taylor.

Dan Ashworth, David Gill and Martin Glenn formally begin the task of identifying Hodgson's successor today, after the 68-year-old resigned following England's humiliating 2-1 defeat to Iceland in Nice on Monday.

Hoddle was sacked after a three-year spell as Three Lions boss in 1999, but the 58-year-old still boasts the third best win ratio of any England manager behind Sir Alf Ramsey and Fabio Capello.

Image: Hoddle gives instructions to Michael Owen and Gary Neville against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup

Speaking on Sky Sports News HQ, Taylor said: "People will say it's because I have worked with him before but Glenn Hoddle to me is the perfect choice.

"He understands football and he wants teams to play the right way. He is so knowledgeable about the game both on and off the ball.

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Former FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick believes the organisation should take their time over appointing a new England manager

"He'd have a group of players that he could organise in a good way. He understands opponents and he's willing to try certain things.

"I worked for the U21 from 1996 to 1999 and Glenn was the senior manager. For me, every time he walked in to the building he was getting better and better and after three years he was absolutely outstanding at what he was doing.

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Image: Harry Redknapp topped a Sky Sports readers poll to become next England boss

"He produced the team that played against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup (where England lost a quarter-final penalty shootout). We were better than them for an hour and we had 10 men and then all of a sudden he loses his job after that, which wasn't for football reasons."

Former Tottenham, West Ham and Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is the preferred candidate as next England manager according to a poll of Sky Sports readers, and Taylor can understand why the 69-year-old is a popular choice for the supporters.

Image: Peter Taylor had two spells as England U21 boss

"It doesn't surprise me," Taylor added. "I've done a lot of scouting recently and there are always clubs that have players who really want to play for the manager. I look at everywhere Harry has been and players seem to want to play for him.

"I think with the national team players don't want to go there and find that everything is too strict. They've got to be treated like men and have a little bit of freedom and I think that seems to be Harry's way.

Image: Taylor gave David Beckham the captaincy when he was made caretaker manager for one game in 1999

"I've no doubt Harry would have the players with him and they'd want to play for him. Everywhere he goes his teams play attacking football, so it doesn't surprise me that he is very high on the list."

Taylor added: "I really want us to stay English. I think we have got enough good English coaches here."

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