Sam Allardyce: England manager to approach Bayern Munich about assistant Paul Clement
Former West Ham manager also keen to speak to Fernando Hierro
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Sam Allardyce is planning to speak to Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti in an effort to secure Paul Clement as a member of his England coaching team.
Allardyce has been handed the task of taking England to the 2018 World Cup in Russia after being selected by a three-man Football Association panel – chief executive Martin Glenn, vice-chairman David Gill and technical director Dan Ashworth – to succeed Roy Hodgson as team manager.
And the 61-year-old, who saved Sunderland from Premier League relegation last season, has already drawn up plans for his backroom staff ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in September.
The former Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn and West Ham manager is keen to speak to Fernando Hierro, the Real Oviedo coach, about a role within the England set-up, but Clement is the number one choice to fulfil a part-time role as coach, similar to that filled by Gary Neville during Hodgson’s four-year reign in charge.
Clement returned to coaching with Bayern this summer after being sacked by Derby County in February after after just nine months in the charge of the Championship outfit.
The 44-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the game, however, and he has resumed his partnership with Ancelotti after assisting the Italian at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Clement briefly helped England Under-21 coach Gareth Southgate on an informal basis last seasin following his departure from Derby and Allardyce is keen to support the FA’s plan to boost the numbers of home-grown coaches by offering him a role within the England senior set-up.
The new England manager has yet to settle on a permanent number two, but that appointment will be made in addition to the part-time role currently being lined up for Clement.
However, Allardyce is hopeful of speaking to Hierro, the former Real Madrid captain, after forming a strong relationship with the Spaniard during his one season as a player at Bolton in 2004-05.
While it remains unlikely that Hierro would be prepared to leave his position with Oviedo, Allardyce is determined to assess all options, including that of working alongside a foreign coach such as the 48-year-old.
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