Shearer plays down England rumours

Alan Shearer admits the idea of joining England’s coaching team is “flattering” but claims to know nothing about it.

Steve McClaren will take over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup and is currently trying to assemble his backroom staff.

He has asked Terry Venables to join him and is understood to also want former England skipper Shearer.

The Newcastle hero, who retired at the end of last season, has been working for the BBC as a television pundit and addressed the reports on Match of the Day last night.

Shearer, 35, said: “I have no idea where this has come from. It’s news to me. Obviously it would interest me in the future. It’s very flattering but I’ve not heard anything.”

The Football Association refuse to comment on McClaren’s plan until Eriksson leaves the job after the World Cup in Germany.

The FA’s director of communications Adrian Bevington said: “Any plans Steve McClaren may or may not have will not be discussed publicly until after the World Cup.

“Sven is the current England manager and our full focus of attention is with him at the moment.”

Shearer’s early foray into television has been considered a success.

His opinions have been forthright and intelligent but he makes no secret of the fact that he wants to return to football at some point.

He had a spell as joint caretaker manager of Newcastle last season, alongside Glenn Roeder who has now taken the role permanently.

Shearer has started the process of taking his UEFA coaching badges and has already been tipped as a future manager at St James’ Park, where he spent a decade as a player and broke Jackie Milburn’s all-time goalscoring record last season.

McClaren has been involved in Eriksson’s coaching team for the last five and a half years and is currently with the team in Germany.

He still wants Venables on board but the former England boss has not yet accepted the offer.

McClaren’s vision is to have the coaching expertise and experience of Venables in the background.

Shearer’s role would be more hands-on and he would provide a vital link to the current generation of players.

He scored 30 goals in 63 games for England and commands enormous respect within the game, both as a footballer and as an individual.