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England football coach Steve McClaren sacked

Steve McClaren paid the price of England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 when he was unceremoniously dismissed from his position as head coach.

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LONDON: England's Football Association said on Thursday it would consider foreign candidates for the vacancy as manager of the national team in a change of policy that could clear the way for an approach to Jose Mourinho.   

Speaking after Steve McClaren was sacked for failing to guide the squad to Euro 2008, FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick said the search for his successor would not be restricted to English or British candidates.   

"I don't think nationality will be an issue," said Barwick, the man who effectively appointed McClaren in the aftermath of the 2006 World Cup.   

Although Barwick made overtures at the time to both Guus Hiddink and Luiz Felipe Scolari, the FA had expressed a clear preference for a home-grown successor to Sven Goran Eriksson, England's first overseas coach.   

That helped McClaren get the job and his failure to repeat Eriksson's success has inevitably influenced thinking about what England should do next.   

Former Real Madrid and AC Milan coach Fabio Capello was quick to declare his interest in the job.   

The Italian is unemployed after leaving Real and he told Italian TV channel Rai, "Me to coach England? It would be a challenge, a beautiful test to overcome and I would have the right age."   

While Capello has an impressive pedigree, it is Mourinho who has been installed as the bookmakers' favourite. The Portuguese is the 3-1 favourite with Corals, while he can also be backed at 4-1 with Paddy Power.  

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is the second favourite at most bookmakers, while England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce is 10-1, former England captain Alan Shearer is 12-1 and Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is 16-1.   

Mourinho has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in September and may be tempted by a job that would allow him to stay in London, where his young children are at school.   

O'Neill is also seen as a potential successor having applied unsuccessfully for the post when McClaren was appointed.   

Barwick admitted the task of finding a new manager would be handled differently to the last appointment.   

"The recruitment process for the new coach begins now and we will do everything to get the right man for the job," he said.   

"It will be done differently. We've got to learn lessons from the way we did it."   

Geoff Thompson, the FA's chairman, admitted that the governing body had to accept its own share of responsibility for having appointed McClaren in the first place.   

"Of course we feel embarrassed," Thompson said. "As we said earlier we expect as a major nation in Europe to qualify for the European Championships and World Cups. Of course we're embarrassed, disappointed, disappointed like all fans."   

Barwick, who has had to fend off calls for him to step down alongside McClaren, apologised to England's fans, thousands of whom spent small fortunes following the team across Europe in the expectation that their loyalty would be rewarded by guaranteed tickets to watch their heroes at Euro 2008.   

"Last night was a tough, tough night," Barwick said. "I understand we have let them down and apologise for that."

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