Hoddle has ‘no chance’ of becoming France coach

GLENN HODDLE has “no chance” of being picked as the new France coach, according to one of the most powerful men in the French game.

French Football League vice-president Gervais Martel was dismissive of the former England and Tottenham manager’s prospects of succeeding Jacques Santini, and insisted the job must not go to a foreign coach.

Hoddle confirmed his candidature with a fax to the French Football Federation on Tuesday, but Jean Tigana and Laurent Blanc are clear favourites for the vacant position.

Martel, who is the president of top-flight side Lens and also chief of the union of French football club presidents, said: “Glenn Hoddle was a good player and a good coach with England, but I think he has no chance of succeeding Jacques Santini.

“He is a very respectable man but I believe that we should be capable of finding a French coach in our country. His application did not surprise me, it has now become common practice to see coaches take the reins of a nation that is not theirs like (Germany’s) Otto Rehhagel in Greece.

“But we must find a coach in France and, I repeat it, Hoddle has no chance.”

Hoddle, aged 46, has been out of football since being axed by his beloved Tottenham last September, a position which was then filled on a caretaker basis by David Pleat and Chris Hughton until Santini was recently handed the reins at White Hart Lane.

He boasts international experience from a spell in charge of England between 1996 and 1999, when he was ousted following a controversial interview.

He led England at the 1998 World Cup, when they were knocked out by Argentina in the second round, after a penalty shoot-out.

A spokesman from the FFF confirmed yesterday that Hoddle was one of a list of candidates for the job.

Romanian Stefan Kovacs has to date been the only non-French coach to lead the national team, having guided them from 1973 to 1975.

This time, the choice looks increasingly likely to be between Tigana and Blanc.

Blanc who, as a player, was a member of France’s victorious World Cup 98 and Euro 2000 squads, has no coaching experience.

Tigana, conversely, enjoyed an outstanding playing career and has since emerged as a successful coach in club football after spells with Lyon, Monaco and Fulham.