FOOTBALL Association chief executive Brian Barwick admitted no Englishman met the requirements to take charge of the national team.
Fabio Cappello
The likes of Harry Redknapp, Steve Coppell, Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley
and Alan Shearer were all linked with the job in the wake of Steve McClaren's departure following his failure to guide England to the finals of Euro 2008.
But ultimately, and not surprisingly, the FA opted to overlook the list of homegrown names in favour of a top-class manager with a proven track record in the shape of Fabio Capello.
While the appointment of the highly-decorated Italian on a four-and-a-half-year contract was considered a major coup by many, some observers, including former England stalwarts Paul Ince and Tony Adams, remained adamant that it should have been a no-brainer to select an Englishman for the role.
Barwick was sympathetic to such views, claiming his preference would have been to install a native at the helm. However, he admitted that, after careful consideration, none of the homegrown contenders possessed all the necessary credentials to be deemed worthy of taking on what is arguably one of world football's toughest jobs.
"I wrote out a template and put it against our current crop of English managers and not one of them ticked all the boxes," said Barwick. "So the reality is we can't find a suitable English candidate at present. It has to be our ambition to have an English boss, but we have to be realistic."
While Barwick was understandably thrilled to have recruited Capello, a man he has described as a "winner with a capital W", the FA chief executive remains realistic on the chances of the Italian leading England to victory in a major tournament.
"There is no triumphalism. Fabio knows he has a serious job to do. This is a team that has not qualified for the European Championships," he added.
Barwick's colleague, Sir Trevor Brooking, the director of football development, also tried to temper the widespread notion that Capello will effect an immediate transformation in England's fortunes. We are not getting carried away by the thought that suddenly, because we have Fabio, we will become world-beaters, because we will not," he said.
"We have not won anything for 40 years. Let us not expect him to suddenly win us two big championships. We cannot sit back and think everything is rosy. What we have to do is try to get the best out of that group of players."
Former England manager Terry Venables, who was also McClaren's assistant until four weeks ago, is one man who would have appointed an Englishman to the role.
"I think it should have been an English coach," said Venables on BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek.
"The Dutch, French, Germans and Italians would not have done it because from their point of view it would be an indictment on them and their own coaching courses. If we're not good enough, then that's fine, but they would prefer to have someone who is going to have a simple plan and get the good players going.
"They would rather not win, than do that (appoint a foreigner]. I'm not saying what's right or wrong. It's within the rules, so why not, and that's the way it is. From a professional point of view, and when you talk about the Premier League, it's a world game.
"There is a slightly different attitude, which has changed going back to my father and grandparents' time because then it would be unheard of, unpalatable. That is the era you live in. Now it is different and people don't mind what happens as long as we win, so who is to say it is wrong. As for me, I would have appointed an Englishman.
"Now the guy is a very good coach, a very good name and he has had successes. As they say, the CV is great. It's up to him now to get on, and we will see how he does as to whether it is right or wrong. There's no point guessing. Let the show go on."
Venables, though, believes it is now imperative that the FA act for the good of the game in the future.
"All parts, from the Football Association to those involved in the football itself, have to look at themselves, strip it down and see where the problems are," insisted Venables.
The full article contains 747 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
