Roy Hodgson's Glorious Season Should Earn Him England Job

In a league which is high on results and low on patience, it is often easier to turn to expensive foreign managers for a quick fix, or to bring in one of the generic 'old hands' (hello Sam Allardyce) to steady the ship.

So when relegation-threatened Fulham decided to appoint Roy Hodgson in December 2007, it was seen as a dubious move. Hodgson was seen as detatched from the modern English game having last coached in the Premiership with Blackburn Rovers in 1998. That tenure ended badly, and he proceeded to work his way around Europe's leagues and national teams. His last two jobs prior to Fulham, with Finland and Viking Stavagnar of Norway, pretty much suggested that he was past it.

Now, basking in the wake of Fulham's progression to their first ever European cup final, Hodgson is arguably the Premiership Manager of the Season and undoubtedly one of the best managerial appointments of the last decade.

Fulham showed remarkable determination and grit in coming back to beat Hamburg at Craven Cottage, after getting a 0-0 result in the great old German port city. On both occasions, Hodgson got his tactics spot on, and his organisational and motivational techniques have been proven to be first class.

Hodgson has succeeded in getting the best out of the myriad talents of a Fulham team most pundits considered distinctly average at the start of the season. Credit must go to Fulham' board for not acting rashly and sacking Roy after his poor start back in 2008. Since then, he has been able to strengthen the team with new signings (Schwarzer, Hangelaand, Johnson), and has lit a fire under other players such as Simon Davis, Damian Duff, Jonathan Greening and Aaron Hughes.

And as Bobby Zamora is now in England consideration for the World Cup, then Hodgson must practically be a miracle worker.

Speaking of England, I can see no more fitting reward for Sir Roy than to replace Fabio Capello when he inevitably leaves after the World Cup. Hodgson's current credentials for the job are unmatched amongst Premiership managers. Perhaps Martin O'Neill would deserve consideration, but the fact that Hodgson has managed abroad, took charge of national sides before and is at the stage in his career which he would probably sit well with the decreased workload of national coach all work in his favour.

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Plus, he is English. And unlike the case of the Wally with the Brolly McLaren, Hodgson's current record and experience actually warrents consideration for the job. His English nationality is merely a bonus. I always feel that it is better to have a national team manager native to the country as it characterises the team in a way that a foreign coach never could (see Vogts, Bertie).

So well done Sir Roy, and good luck at the final. Hopefully you get all that you deserve.

GM