So a number of parties have had their wish granted with Fabio Capello announcing that he will step down as England manager when his contract expires.

This happens to be at the end of Euro 2012, a tournament which England already have one foot in after such convincing results, most notably the outcome in Switzerland.

For some managers, the pressure that was heaped upon Capello in the summer would have proved unbearable, forcing them to slump off with a reputation strewn all over the FA Headquarters.

Which is why the calls that have already emerged spouting an English replacement must be appointed couldn’t be more petulant and wide of the mark. Have we learned nothing? Imagine if Kevin Keegan had found himself in Capello’s predicament in the August. Far from dusting himself down and guiding the nation to two commanding victories in potentially career defining ties, the former Newcastle boss would more likely be found hanging from the rafters.

Steve Mclaren has since been able to restore some self respect following the whole ‘wolly with the brolly’ sherade where England disintegrated before his hapless rain free eyes on the Wembley turf against Croatia. Apart from the futile Dutch accent that was adopted during press conferences at FC Twente, McLaren’s spell was highly successful, claiming the Dutch title and subsequently earning a move to the Bundesliga and Wolfsburg.

But let’s face it, to find the last moderately successful English born manager at the helm of the national side, it would result in rewinding back to Euro 96 and Terry Venables and the heartbreak of penalty shoot out failure.

Venables was arguably the last credible English national boss

Glenn Hoddle did ok, but clearly wasn’t in the correct mindset to take England forward - his outburst against disabled individuals proving the final nail in a very well held down coffin. Perhaps it is unfortunate that ‘faith healer’ Eileen Drewery couldn’t have worked her magic and get the former Spurs star some interpersonal skills.

Of course, it is not to suggest that an English manager should be totally ruled out of the equation as a replacement for Capello, but at least weigh up potential candidates credentials rather than making a rash decision based on the place of their birth.

For starters, is there an individual out there who is good enough to take over the reigns, someone who will be able to take England forward? In the English sense, although the situation could obviously change in two years time, only a couple of individuals have the reputation to even be considered – and having been overlooked in favour of sticking with the Italian, Roy Hodsgon may be inclined to rebuff any potential approach.

Harry Redknapp continually achieves in the Premier League, breaking the stranglehold of the top four with Tottenham Hotspur last campaign highlighted that the ‘football manager’, and in no way ‘wheeler dealer’, is rather good at the former.

However, as much as Redknapp likes to distance himself from the ‘wheeler dealer’ tag, he is undoubtedly a shrewd mover in the transfer market, an attribute which counts for nothing at International level, unless of course you are looking for loopholes in attempting to make Mikel Arteta an Englishman.

Of course there are advantages to employing a national of a country, no issue with the language barrier for starters, and it also upholds what was a tradition of the England national team, often frowning upon those who decided to go foreign.

Football manager. Not wheeler dealer. England's man?

But to appoint someone, like McLaren for example, with a wafer thin curriculum vitae, would only be a backwards step. Throw Scotland into the equation. The Berti Vogts disaster aside, they have persisted in appointing half rate Scottish managers who just don’t cut the mustard.

Since the Germans reign, Tommy Bunrs, Walter Smith, Alex Mcleish, George Burley, all failed. Craig Levin? Notice how happy the former Leicester City boss was when Stephen McManus grabbed a last minute winner against the formidable Liechtenstein.

What is going through the Football Association mind is anyone’s guess, but perhaps they will back track if Capello learns from his mistakes of sticking with disruptive influences, by continuing to use adopt the fresh talent, and subsequently has a highly credible tournament in Poland and Ukraine in 2012. Who knows, perhaps the Italian will clinch the championship in Kiev?

Alex Z