English FA talks to Hodgson about coach's job

LONDON (AP) -- The English Football Association approached West Bromwich Albion manager Roy Hodgson on Sunday about filling the national coach's job, almost three months after Fabio Capello's resignation.

The FA waited until the final weeks of the season to make its move to replace Capello, despite the European Championship starting in June. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had been considered the favorite for the job.

The FA was granted permission on Sunday by West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace to speak with Hodgson, who has coached in seven countries and led three national teams.

"Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set-out soon after Fabio Capello's departure,'' FA chairman David Bernstein said in a statement. "Further conversations will now take place with Roy and my Club England colleagues before any further announcements can be made.''

The FA would not have to pay compensation to hire Hodgson, whose West Brom contract was due to expire at the end of the season next month.

In a 36-year coaching career, Hodgson has had spells in England, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and Italy, where he was twice in charge of Inter Milan.

Hodgson has also coached Finland, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland, which he guided to the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He has also acted as a technical adviser to UEFA, European football's governing body.

He made his mark in England with Fulham, the small west London club he joined midway through the 2007-08 season and guided to its best ever finish of seventh place the following year.

He was voted manager of the year for 2009-10 by the League Managers Association for taking the Cottagers to the Europa League final.

He was subsequently lured to Liverpool, where he endured an unsuccessful six-month stint before being fired in January 2011.

But West Brom handed Hodgson a swift chance to re-establish his reputation a month later and he repaid the club's faith in him by keeping the club in the Premier League. West Brom is 10th in the standings with two matches to go this season.

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