Arsene Wenger has no interest in taking the England job but Jurgen Klinsmann is ready to answer the Three Lions’ emergency call
Arsenal boss willing to talk with FA but has his doubts over hotseat as USA manager makes bid to replace Roy Hodgson
ARSENE WENGER will tell FA bosses he is NOT interested in the England job.
The Arsenal chief is the players’ choice to succeed Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson’s flops met for an inquest at the AC Hotel in Nice as they came to terms with their dismal KO by Iceland.
They believe Wenger, 66, has the stature and standing to take on the biggest mission in world football.
The Frenchman is willing to talk to the FA’s three-man panel searching for the next Three Lions chief.
But he has concerns over the FA’s infrastructure and is not keen on international management.
Wenger has never broken a contract and it is extremely unlikely the FA would wait a year for his Emirates deal to end.
His stance will be a huge blow to FA chief Martin Glenn, as Wenger has reverential status after winning nine trophies — including two Doubles — with the Gunners.
Glenn, who is working with vice-chairman David Gill and head of elite development Dan Ashworth, has already confirmed he will speak with senior players about their preferred candidate.
But SunSport can exclusively reveal that Jurgen Klinsmann would jump at the chance to become England boss.
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The former Tottenham star has managed the US national team for the last five years.
But Klinsmann, 51, was yesterday installed as 9-2 favourite to replace Hodgson — ahead of Sam Allardyce and Glenn Hoddle. And a source told SunSport: “Jurgen would listen with great interest if the FA came calling.
“There are several reasons. First, his children have grown up in America speaking English, so will not have any problem adapting.
“Secondly, he loves London after spending two years there with Tottenham. He’d love to come back to the city again.
“And thirdly, England are now in need of someone to lift them. Just like Germany were in 2004 and then the US.
“What Jurgen wants is a project where he can work and build something up from zero.”
England are at rock bottom after Hodgson led them to Euro 2016 humiliation at the hands of Iceland on Monday.
Klinsmann was a serial winner as a player — lifting the World Cup and European Championship with Germany.
He bossed the national side to third spot at the 2006 World Cup and then led the US to the last 16 in Brazil two years ago.
The source added: “Money is not the most important thing. Being able to work freely and achieve results is.”