FA approach Roy Hodgson over England job

Roy Hodgson has been approached about the England manager's job, the Football Association have confirmed.

West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace today granted permission for the FA to hold talks with their 64-year-old manager, and Hodgson has already had a conversation with FA chairman David Bernstein.

No approach has been made to Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who had been viewed as the favourite to succeed Fabio Capello.

Bernstein said: "I'm grateful to Jeremy and all at West Bromwich Albion for their co-operation in allowing us to approach Roy, who I have since spoken with.

"Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set-out soon after Fabio Capello's departure.

"Further conversations will now take place with Roy and my Club England colleagues before any further announcements can be made."

Hodgson is out of contract in the summer - meaning the FA would not have to pay any costly compensation or become involved in any wrangling with the club.

That is in contrast to the situation at Spurs who would expect hefty compensation were the FA to approach them about Redknapp.

Hodgson has coached the Switzerland and Finland national teams with considerable success in the past. He has also been extraordinarily successful on limited resources at West Brom, for whom he signed an 18-month contract last February after a disappointing spell at Liverpool.

West Brom said in a statement: "The club are currently in negotiations with Roy about a new contract - his current deal ends on June 30 - and remain very keen to bring these talks to a successful conclusion.

"However, Roy has expressed a desire to explore this opportunity and, accordingly, the club have granted him permission to speak to the FA."

Peace added: "Roy has done a fantastic job over the past 15 months and the fact the FA want to discuss the England role with him is testament to that.

"Roy is a proud Englishman and we can understand why he wants to speak to the FA about this highly-prestigious managerial position.

"However, we have emphasised to Roy how much we would like him to remain as our head coach and continue his major contribution to our project at the Hawthorns as we look to establish ourselves as a Barclays Premier League club.

"Everyone here has an excellent working relationship with him and he is immensely popular with our supporters."

Roy Hodgson: Factfile

1947: Born on August 9 in Croydon.

1965-75: Player with Crystal Palace, Gravesend and Northfleet, Maidstone and South African side Berea Park.

1976: Starts managerial career with Halmstad in Sweden, winning two championships.

1980: Joins Bristol City as assistant manager.

1982: Appointed manager at Ashton Gate but dismissed within four months after poor run of results when club is taken over by new owners. Returns to Sweden, where he manages Orebro and then Malmo, who won five consecutive championships and two Swedish Cups under him.

1990: Leaves Sweden for Switzerland, taking over at Neuchatel Xamax.

1992: Becomes manager of Switzerland, whom he takes to the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States. Also in charge when they qualified for Euro 96.

1995: Appointed manager of Inter Milan.

1997: Agrees to become Blackburn manager in the summer. While still at Inter, his side lose to German club Schalke in the UEFA Cup final on penalties.

1998: May: Takes Blackburn into European competition for the first time since 1995 but Rovers win only two of their final 11 Premier League matches to fail in chase for title.

November: Sacked by Blackburn with the club bottom of the Premier League, having taken just nine points from 14 games.

1999: Shortlisted for Austria job. Returns to Inter on April 27 as technical director until the end of the season.

Joins Swiss side Grasshopper.

2000: Appointed coach of Danish side FC Copenhagen. Linked with England job after resignation of Kevin Keegan.

2001: May - Takes Copenhagen to the Superliga title.

August: Takes over as coach of Serie A club Udinese.

December 10 - Udinese and Hodgson part company.

2002: April - Appointed manager of the United Arab Emirates.

2004: January - Sacked after leading side to fifth place at the Gulf Cup.

May - Joins Norwegian side Viking FK.

2005: August - Agrees to take over as boss of Finland national team.

2007: November 30 - Quits after failing to secure qualification for Euro 2008.

December 30 - Appointed Fulham manager.

2008: Fulham win four of their last five Premier League games of the season to stave off relegation.

2009: Guides the Cottagers to their highest ever top-flight finish, seventh, and ensures Europa League qualification.

2010: March 18 - Oversees a stunning second-leg comeback against Juventus in the Europa League quarter-final as a 4-1 win takes Fulham into the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

May 12 - Hodgson's side go down 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in extra-time in the Europa League final in Hamburg.

July 1 - Announced as new manager of Liverpool on a three-year contract.

September 23 - Dumped out of the League Cup on penalties at Anfield by League Two side Northampton.

October 3 - Poor form continues with a 2-1 defeat to newly-promoted Blackpool - again at Anfield.

October 15 - US company New England Sports Ventures, owner of the Boston Red Sox, complete their takeover of Liverpool.

December 29 - Criticises Reds fans after another home defeat - this time 1-0 to Wolves.

2011: January 8 - Liverpool announce Hodgson has left the club.

February 11 - Takes over as West Brom coach after the Baggies part company with Roberto Di Matteo.

May - Takes West Brom to 11th in the table after a strong end-of-season run.

April 22 - Leads his side to a 1-0 win over Liverpool on his first return to Anfield.

April 29 - West Brom grant the Football Association permission to speak to Hodgson about the vacant manager's position.

PA