London (AFP) – Hull boss Steve Bruce has held talks with the Football Association over the vacant England manager’s job, several media outlets reported Tuesday.
A three-man FA panel made up of former Manchester United chief executive David Gill, FA technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Martin Glenn are seeking a successor to Roy Hodgson who stepped down after England’s disappointing Euro 2016 campaign.
Bruce, who like fellow candidate Sam Allardyce has yet to win any silverware during a long time in club management, said prior to the talks he thought the job should go to a homegrown talent.
“I think the top of the FA in my opinion should be English. I’ve always said that, there’s nobody more patriotic than I am,” the 55-year-old Englishman told BBC Radio Humberside.
“I’m honoured to be linked with it. It’s the pinnacle to go and manage your country. What bigger job in the world is there?” added Bruce, who has also managed among other clubs Wigan and Sunderland.
The Hull boss, who enjoyed a successful playing career captaining Manchester United although he was never capped, and Sunderland manager Allardyce are thought to be on a four-man short list also comprising Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe and USA boss and former German striker Jurgen Klinsmann.
Hodgson stepped down after England’s latest failure at a major finals, losing 2-1 to minnows Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016.
England have failed to make it past the first knockout stage of a major finals since Sven-Goran Eriksson guided them to the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals where they lost on penalties to Portugal.
