Glenn Hoddle Ready To Be England Caretaker Manager

By Simon Gallagher / March 26, 2012

In an interview with the Independent newspaper this morning, former England manager Glenn Hoddle who almost led his nation to victory in the Euro '96 tournament on home soil seemed to suggest that he would be ready to step into the breach to manage England at this summer's Euro 2012 tournament: When asked if he felt he had unfinished business with the FA, he responded with the following loaded answer:"If I were to die tomorrow, my life would be incomplete." So, could he manage England again?

"Would I get that opportunity? Probably not. But I don't dwell on the past and, if we fast-forward to the present, I think we have a batch of players capable of going to the Euros and doing well. I find it a very interesting moment. Because Stuart Pearce, Harry Redknapp, Roy Hodgson, myself €“ anyone €“ who went to the tournament with the status of a caretaker would have the pressure off him and the players would be liberated too, not least those who have been on the fringes and are accustomed to thinking that the manager doesn't fancy them. Micah Richards, say €“ I'm not saying he should be in the team or not but he's certainly one who, after maybe not convincing Fabio Capello, could benefit from a fresh start."

Regardless of how you might feel about Hoddle's personal beliefs, he remains a talented coach, and knows how to navigate a team through a major championship tournament, as he puts it himself:

"Knowing the score as I do €“ having experienced tournament pressure as a player and a manager €“ I believe, strangely enough, that the situation we are in presents a real opportunity for an England manager. If it goes wrong, as in South Africa, people will say 'What did you expect?' And, if it works, it could be perfect for us to click. And those players will have to click this time, because the next World Cup is in Brazil and history shows we're unlikely to win in South America. Yes, we have to qualify, but if you look at the crop of young players €“ Hart, Jones, Smalling, Sturridge, Wilshere, Welbeck, Cleverley €“ most won't be at their peaks until we're back in Europe in France in 2016. Meanwhile, we can have a real go at these Euros."

The former Wolves and Southampton manager certainly talks sense, and he draws a comparison with the English rugby team's successful appointment of Stuart Lancaster:

"Look at how a caretaker has worked for the England rugby team in the Six Nations €“ they've done fantastically. Everyone's got an edge. No one's sure of a place and everyone has an incentive. So I'd back the FA if they decided not to go for a full-time manager yet. If Harry goes and does well, fine."

Hoddle also took the opportunity of the interview to refute those claims made by Times journalist Matt Dickinson, who wrote the article that ultimately cost Hoddle his job, regarding his beliefs on reincarnation. Asked by Dickinson whether he believed that disability might be a punishment for transgressions in a former life, Hoddle claims he never said what was quoted:

"I gave the example of rich and poor but not €“ never €“ the disabled. It was, in any case, a conversation requiring hours, days, weeks €“ not a couple of minutes... When I was told that the story had appeared on the front page, I was horrified. Not because of whether I'd lose my job or not €“ that didn't occur to me €“ but because I didn't want people to believe I'd said what I was supposed to have said. Especially disabled people. The thought of that hurt a lot."

Would you welcome Hoddle back in charge of the England team? Let us know below.