England: Five Candidates to Succeed Roy Hodgson As Manager

Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson at City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro, March 26, 2013. Hodgson may be replaced as England manager after Euro 2016. Michael Regan/Getty

Roy Hodgson's four-year reign as England manager will come under increased scrutiny should his side fail to progress to the latter stages of Euro 2016.

FA chairman Greg Dyke appears to have set a target of the semi-finals for Hodgson and his team, which faces a tricky route with France, Spain, Italy and Germany all on England's side of the draw.

The 68-year-old's contract is up for renewal after the campaign as well, and some have called for a new face to be installed in the England dugout.

Here, Newsweek outlines five possible candidates who could succeed Hodgson.

Gareth Southgate

As England's under 21s manager, Southgate is certainly in the line for the top job.

This doesn't, however, tend to be the natural route for an England manager. The FA has never permanently promoted an U21s manager to the first-team post but Southgate's success could see a first.

Having held the job since summer of 2013, the former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender has built a formidable group of development players.

Despite seeing players such as Eric Dier, Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Harry Kane and Dele Alli plucked from the U21s to play in the first-team, Southgate has still found success.

Last month, England was crowned champions at the Toulon Tournament in Avignon, France, after goals from Chelsea's Lewis Baker and Ruben Loftus-Cheek led to a 2-1 victory over the hosts.

Satisfying though that was for the FA, it is the "50 years of hurt" that needs to come to an end and question marks hang over whether Southgate could deal with the egos of the England first-team.

Gary Neville

The Valencia experiment may have put a dent in the perception that Neville was destined for greatness in management, but he will remain a contender for the England job.

With just four months in the role, the former Manchester United defender was sacked by owner Peter Lim having picked up just 14 points in 16 games in La Liga.

The language barrier proved a tricky hurdle for Neville but, ultimately, his time at the Mestalla will be remembered as a failure.

But the England assistant is still held in high regard. A career that spans almost two decades at United and included eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions Leagues demands respect from the current crop.

Neville's tactical awareness will make him a leading candidate when Hodgson is replaced.

Alan Pardew

A preference of the FA for an England manager tends to be a man with experience. Although, perhaps, a more controversial choice, Pardew has impressed in his 18-year career.

Starting out his management career in Berkshire, Pardew led Reading from relegation threatened in division two to fighting for promotion in division one.

In recent years, he has won manager of the year at Newcastle United in 2012 after guiding the Toon to fifth in the Premier League, before a move to Crystal Palace in 2015.

Pardew has turned Palace into an imposing proposition for Premier League opponents, and managed to take the club as high as fifth last season before falling away in the second half of the campaign.

If the FA is able to ignore Pardew's fiery past, which includes verbal bust-ups with other managers and headbutting a Hull City player, the Palace manager could be the next man for England.

Sam Allardyce

Another man with a depth of experience in the game, the Sunderland manager guarantees an organized team that will be hard to beat.

Having made Bolton Wanderers over-achievers, and lifted both West Ham and Sunderland away from relegation, the likeable 61-year-old knows how to grind out results.

A strong man-manager, players tend to respond well to Allardyce and controlling egos in the dressing room is a key task for any England manager.

But will the FA be turned off by the more defensive approach his teams adopt?

Eddie Howe

One for the future, they say.

But Eddie Howe's remarkable success at Bournemouth will inevitably throw his name into contention when the England manager's job becomes vacant.

In October 2012, Howe joined the Cherries, his former club as a player, which was then playing in League One, the third tier of English football.

Less than four years later, he has propelled the club to the Premier League after a double promotion, and finished 16th in the top tier, five points clear of safety.

Howe is being monitored by the FA as a future England boss, but if there are no standout successors that move may come sooner rather than later.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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