Sam Allardyce set to speak to FA over becoming new England manager this week with Jurgen Klinsmann only rival

The former Bolton manager impressed the FA panel when interviewed for the job in 2006

Sam Allardyce is among the favourites to replace Roy Hodgson (Getty)

Sam Allardyce is set to speak to the Football Association about the England’s manager’s job this week, with United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann now the only serious rival for the 61-year-old to become Roy Hodgson’s successor.

With Hodgson resigning in the wake of England’s Euro 2016 second round exit against Iceland two weeks ago, the FA are understood to be determined to end uncertainty over the manager’s position by making an appointment before the end this month.

And Sunderland manager Allardyce, currently in the Austrian Alps with his squad for pre-season preparations, is the only English candidate being considered by the three-man FA panel of chief executive Martin Glenn, technical director Dan Ashworth and vice-chairman David Gill.

Allardyce’s claims to the job have been strengthened by Sir Alex Ferguson laying out the case for his appointment to Gill, the Manchester United chief executive during the final decade of Ferguson’s reign as manager.

There is also a belief within the FA that Allardyce’s willingness to be a collaborative manager is a strong positive in his favour.

While Klinsmann’s work with the United States, and previously as Germany coach between 2004 and 2006, has earned him admirers within the FA, the German’s reputation for being a demanding and abrasive figure is likely to hamper his prospects of landing the job.

Klinsmann, who has two years left to run on his USA contract, has fallen out with US Soccer Federation president Sunil Galati and Don Garber, the Commissioner of the MLS, in recent months and he also left his role as Bayern Munich coach in 2009 after less than a year in charge due to high-profile disagreements with the club’s hierarchy.

And although Klinsmann’s success in promoting youth has been a key factor in his time with Germany and the USA, Allardyce’s readiness to remain loyal to the FA’s coaching programme at St George’s Park, and appoint a domestic coach to his team, outweighs Klinsmann’s work with Germany and the US.

Ashworth, the man charged with implementing the FA’s DNA programme relating to the development of English coaches and under-age teams, wants an appointment who will demonstrate a clear pathway for those young coaches aiming to further their career.

And Allardyce, having coached and managed domestically for over 20 years, is regarded as being the best qualified Englishman to take the job on.

The former Bolton manager impressed the FA panel when interviewed for the job in 2006, before losing out to Sven-Goran Eriksson’s assistant, Steve McClaren.

Allardyce’s DVD presentation at the time, in which he highlighted the value of performance data and team ethic, has since become the norm for coaches and managers in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he would be prepared to consider the England job – but only once his contract at the Emirates expires next year.


 Arsene Wenger is open to replacing Roy Hodgson 
 (Getty)

“Could I manage England, why not?” Wenger said. “I would never rule that out, but I am happy and focused in club football.

"England is my second country. I was absolutely on my knees when England went out against Iceland. I couldn't believe it.

“But when you watched the game you could sense, after 60 minutes, that the worst could happen. Did they panic or were they tired? I don't know, but England couldn't find an answer to what Iceland posed.

"I have one more year to go with Arsenal and I have been with them for a long time. I have always respected all my contacts [throughout my career] and will continue to do that.

“What will I do after that? Honestly, I don't know."