Capello tips Allardyce and Redknapp for England

Fabio Capello reckons Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp are the current leading two candidates to replace him when he steps down as England manager in 2012.

The Football Association (FA) have indicated they would like to replace Capello with an Englishman when the Italian’s contract ends after the European Championships.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp is the bookmakers’ favourite after bringing Champions League football to White Hart Lane while Allarydce, now at Blackburn Rovers, has been a Premier League manager for nine years.

Capello, speaking at the Future Game conference at Wembley along with Allardyce on Thursday, said: “In this moment Allardyce and Redknapp are doing very well because they have different players, they have good style and get results with them.

“It is important for a coach to understand which type of players they manage and find the best style.”

Meanwhile Allardyce, who took Bolton into Europe and managed Newcastle before joining Blackburn, was uncertain as to whether he would be able to adapt to international football although he has often promoted himself for the England job in the past.

“I can’t answer that because I haven’t been an international manager,” Allardyce said.

“All I do know is that from all the international managers I have spoken to it’s a complete change from what I’m doing now,” he added.

“Fabio has talked about how he had to go from dealing with players on a day-to-day basis to having all of a sudden to deal with working with them now and again.

“I have not been there but the pressure that they experience is immense, far bigger than they experience at their own clubs.”

The FA decided to continue with Capello despite England’s laclustre showing at this year’s World Cup in South Africa where the side crashed out in the second round.

England won their subsequent Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland but were desperately disappointing in a goalless draw at home to Montenegro before an inexperienced side were well beaten in a friendly against France.

But the 64-year-old Capello was adamant England were an improving side.

“The team are getting better,” he insisted.

“I think if the best English players are fit we have a really good team.”

He added: “The young players coming through have a lot of talent but the last game we played against France I think too many young players played together,” he continued.

“Usually when you play against an important team like France you have two young players and the others have to be senior because when you play here (at Wembley) it is really difficult.

“The pressure is really risky. I am happy not for the result because I understood a lot after this game about these players. Some players are ready to play; others have to play more to be ready.”