Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of one day becoming England boss and insisted the national team should be managed by an Englishman.
Should England fail to qualify for Euro 2008, current incumbent Steve McClaren’s tenure would in all likelihood come to an end and the Frenchman would be an ideal candidate to step into the breach as he boasts 11 years of management experience in this country.
Wenger has previously been linked with the England job but now appears to have dismissed any chance of taking over the role.
In an interview with FourFourTwo published in the Daily Telegraph, Wenger said: ‘I manage in England and I hope I can help English football but the national team should be managed by an English guy.
‘If I’m England manager and I play France, what national anthem do I sing?’
Wenger again defended his use of foreign players and criticised FIFA proposals which would restrict the number of foreign players a team would be able to field, an idea that drew support from Sir Alex Ferguson.
‘I find them utter rubbish,’ Wenger continued. ‘I think that sport is just because it rewards the best.
‘You could be my son but if you’re not good enough then you don’t play at Arsenal.
‘I do sometimes get annoyed with Ferguson just like he gets annoyed with me but that’s part of the game.’
The 58-year-old would, though, back a proposal which would see only the captain speak with a referee during a game.
‘When you have a billion people watching and you can read the lips of a player saying ‘you’re rubbish’ to a referee, it does nothing for our game.
‘Changing that rule would have a more positive effect than all the charities we do at the club.’