Robson draws up England shortlist

FORMER England manager Bobby Robson will recommend a list of five men for the national team job to the Football Association — and none of them are English.

Robson is among a group of senior figures in the domestic game who will be consulted by FA chief executive Brian Barwick over who should succeed Steve McClaren after the team’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

He reveals a five-man list consisting of Aston Villa’s Northern Irish boss Martin O’Neill, Russia’s Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, Italian Fabio Capello and Frenchman Gerard Houllier, most recently at Lyon.

Robson said: “Of the British managers, Martin O’Neill clearly stands out. He’s bright, charismatic, experienced and a proven winner.

“Jose’s advantage is he knows our football and he would be welcomed back with open arms. Tactically, there is nobody better — I still remember his dossiers at Porto and Barcelona when he worked with me! — and that’s important for one-off international games.”

As for Hiddink, the man whose Russia team pipped England for a place in the finals, Robson said: “His track record in international football is the best of all the contenders.

“Whereas club managers would need time to adjust, Guus knows this kind of football inside out.

On Capello, Robson said: “After years in Spain and Italy, it would be interesting to see how he coped with the mentality of an English player.”

Houllier has extensive experience of the English game after a spell as manager of Liverpool and Robson added: “His career has received a second wind after he left Liverpool. He won the French League twice with Lyon and I know players such as (Steven) Gerrard look up to him.”