Soccer:Rio Ferdinand has joined his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney in endorsing Harry Redknapp as his choice to become England's new manager.
Former captain Ferdinand, hoping to play for his country at Euro 2012 this summer, believes his former West Ham boss is the man best suited to succeed Fabio Capello, who dramatically quit last night.
Manchester United defender Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: “I think we need an English manager now, we don’t need anything else lost in translation....Harry Redknapp would be my choice by a distance.”
Capello resigned following showdown talks with English Football Association chairman David Bernstein at Wembley over the FA’s decision to go over his head and strip John Terry of the England captaincy.
Earlier in the day, Tottenham boss Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion charges.
Rooney wrote on Twitter last night: “Gutted capello has quit. Good guy and top coach. Got to be english to replace him. Harry redknapp for me.”
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton agreed, telling Sky News: “I think it’s maybe Harry’s time. He plays the game the right way.”
The FA will hold a press conference at noon today at which they are expected to provide more information on Capello’s departure.
Keith Mills, a non-executive director at Tottenham, says the club will wait to see what develops regarding Redknapp and the England job.
“I think we’re jumping the gun a little bit here,” Mills said on BBC Radio Five Live. “Whether Harry will be approached is not a foregone conclusion. If he is, then Harry has got a big decision to make.”
