Redknapp favourite, Beckham in mix for England job

LONDON (AP):

Harry Redknapp is already the favourite, and even David Beckham is in the mix.

A day after Fabio Capello resigned as coach of England's national team, British bookmakers installed Redknapp as the man most likely to take the job.

Former Chelsea manager José Mourinho is also among the candidates, along with interim England coach Stuart Pearce, Roy Hodgson, Guus Hiddink, Martin O'Neill and Arsene Wenger. Beckham, who recently signed a contract extension to play with the Los Angeles Galaxy, is a long shot but still among the names being thrown about.

Whoever it is, an English or British coach is preferred following the Italian's exit.

"There is a preference for an English person or a British person, but in the end we want the best person," Football Association Chairman David Bernstein said Thursday. "Clearly, an English or a British person would have a good start of the matter."

Shortlist of candidates

The FA said it would start drawing up a shortlist of candidates today and Redknapp is sure to be high up on the list, especially after the Tottenham manager was acquitted of tax-evasion charges on Wednesday.

Redknapp, however, wasn't ready to jump at the chance just yet.

"I haven't even thought about it," Redknapp told Sky Sports News as he arrived at Tottenham's training ground yesterday.

Redknapp, who coached Portsmouth to the FA Cup title in 2008, has led Tottenham into third place in the Premier League this season and already has the backing of England players Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand.

"Harry Redknapp for me," Rooney wrote on Twitter.

Ferdinand added: "Harry Redknapp would be my choice by a distance."

Both Manchester United players also called for the next coach to be an Englishman, a topic on the lips of just about every football fan in the country since Capello's decision to quit.

Quarter-final appearances

Sven-Goran Eriksson was the first foreigner to take over England's national team, but the Swede left after the 2006 World Cup despite three straight quarterfinal appearances at major tournaments. He was replaced by Steve McClaren, an Englishman who failed to qualify the team for the 2008 European Championship.

Despite the talk, one English coach has already ruled himself out.

"As an Englishman, I am proud to be in that sort of frame, but it's not for me and I will make that quite clear," Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said. "I am not even in the running as far as I am concerned."

Pardew, however, agreed with the push to give the job to Redknapp.

Until the FA appoints a permanent coach, Pearce will lead The team for a friendly against the Netherlands at Wembley on February 29, but after that, coaches like Mourinho and Hiddink will be back in the fray.