Jansen tops England's foreign list

The English FA are to consider the availability of foreign coaches to take charge of the national side - but an English supremo is still the number one choice for the authorities.

Former Celtic coach Wim Jansen is the top foreign target to take over the England job and is currently available. The happiness and quality he brought to an average Celtic side last season impressed many observers in England but the appointment of the highly respected Dutchman would break a century of tradition.

New caretaker coach Kevin Keegan is only in charge for the next four matches and has given the FA time to sort through an entire continent of candidates in a bid to end forty years of failure by the national side.

English coaches should be more approachable as well after the season ends. Of the leading candidates only former Switzerland and Internazionale coach Roy Hodgson is free at present. He tops the short list of English names to be considered by the FA until June when Keegan completes his spell in charge to return to small London club Fulham and the end of his contract with them in June 2000.

Keegan gave his first press conference as England manager yesterday at a West End hotel and spoke plainly of his wish to return to the England team as full time coach in the future. Success in the four matches - three of them competitive Euro 2000 qualifiers - could see the appointment of another caretaker until Keegan ends his spell with Fulham.

Thoughts of Arsene Wenger or Alex Ferguson leaving club football to take on the English challenge appear to be complete fantasy but the FA will discuss any chance of bringing them to the national team job along with many other coaches they will initially consider this month.

Leicester City are already trying to head off interest in their coach Martin O'Neill by beginning discussions over a new contract until 2002 with the former Northern Ireland international. O'Neill is highly regarded by the English FA for his achievements with Leicester based on his motivational abilities.

Keegan has appointed former Newcastle and Blackburn coach Derek Fazackerley to work alongside him and will retain Howard Wilkinson the previous caretaker boss to help him cope with the demands of the national team job.