England caretaker boss Stuart Pearce has revealed he would like the chance to be in charge of the team at this summers European Championship.
The under-21 boss will be in charge of the Three Lions when they face Holland in their final friendly before the tournament but it looks like he hopes to be kept on long-term.
Hopeful
He told a press conference: ‘ I am available and I have tournament experience if they (the FA) need me to step into the breach in the summer,”
“ That is obviously a decision for the employees here. They know exactly where I am, they know exactly what I want to do. If they need me to take the squad in the summer I will do that with pleasure.
“If they need me to coach a manager that is coming through the door, I will do that with pleasure as well. Beyond that, at this moment in time, I consider myself after the summer the Team GB manager and Under 21 manager.”
Desperate
The former-Manchester City boss seems desperate to stay in the England setup in whatever capacity necessary. However it seems he could get the chance to manage the national team at the European Championship.
Favourite
Current favourite for the job Harry Redknapp was always considered the preferred choice for the role. According to the man himself though the FA haven’t yet been in touch with him about the role and he is happy at Tottenham.
Redknapp has built such a promising team at Tottenham that he could find it hard to leave his position at White Hart Lane. It’s believed that the England job is the only one that would be big enough to tempt him away from his current role.
I have no doubt that Redknapp is the correct man for the England job but whether he will get it all of a sudden seems in doubt. There also doesn’t seem to be any other realistic candidates for the job.
Experience
Stuart Pearce’s only managerial experience has came with the England under-21’s and a short stint at Manchester City. This isn’t exactly the sort of experience you would want for an in-coming England manager.
He has done a decent job with the under-21’s but the junior Lions still haven’t won a tournament under Pearce and failed to win a game at the last one. Admittedly they got to a European Championship final under Pearce but the team didn’t have the mental strength to cope with the occasion, not to mention the ability as they came up against a very strong Germany side.
Pearce does know quite a few of the players in the England squad though having managed them at under-21 level. He will know their strengths and weaknesses and he should know which young players are ready to play for the full national side.
Possibility
If Harry Redknapp decides he will stay with Spurs, then I think there is a possibility of Stuart Pearce being in charge of the England team at the European Championship. Euro 2012 is being considered a transitional tournament by a lot of England fans, so there would be very little to lose.
However I don’t believe Stuart Pearce is ready for the job on a full-time basis. He was a good, passionate player for all the clubs he represented and country but as a manager he still has a lot to learn. Short-term his appointment wouldn’t be a disaster for England but long-term I don’t believe he would be the right appointment.
Should Stuart Pearce be in charge of the England team at Euro 2012?
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