Last Updated: 14th July
BREAKING NEWS
ENGLAND APPOINT MARK HENDERSON AS MANAGER
The Football Association have today confirmed that a replacement has been found to take over as the new England football manager.
Following a disastrous European Championship campaign, Roy Hodgson swiftly resigned from the job and left the FA searching for a replacement with the start of qualifying for the next tournament taking place in just two months time.
The likes of Jurgen Klinsmann, Glenn Hoddle, Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce had all been heavily linked to the job but the man that FA has chosen is a name that nobody had expected to be hired, particularly after a very short spell at Manchester City.
Mark Henderson will be a underwhelming name tasked with restoring the pride into the national team. He may have tarnished his reputation after losing his job at the Etihad after just 25 games but there is no doubting his passion for the game and the silverware that he has achieved during his time in the game to date.
It all started at Alfreton Town for the new England manager where turned the fortunes of the club from mid-table obscurity in the Conference to an established Championship side, all while never pending a single penny on a player. On the way, he picked up the title in the Conference and League Two and steered the club to promotion from League One via second place.
His time at Alfreton came to an abrupt end with the team in the Championship but Henderson then moved abroad to try his hand elsewhere. 15 years in Germany followed in which he oversaw a rebuilding project at Hoffenheim before leading them to the Bundesliga title. Prior to that, he'd led the German club to a runners-up spot in the league as well as in the German Cup and the German League Cup. In his final couple of seasons, Henderson jumped ship to take over VfB Stuttgart, leading them to a 3rd place finish and a runners-up spot in the German League Cup. But he soon tasted glory once again as Stuttgart won the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the UEFA Cup!
Having now announced himself on the international stage, Henderson returned 'home' to England to take over at Stoke City. Promising to blood a young squad at the Britannia Stadium, much like the failed efforts of England in recent times, Henderson endured a tough start to his debut in the Premiership but there's no doubting the rewards that followed. Stoke City won the Premiership title, finished 2nd once and 3rd twice. The club also won both the FA Cup and League Cup as well as picking up three runners-up medals across both competitions. Henderson also matched the achievement with Stuttgart and went one further in winning the UEFA Cup twice, the Inter-Toto Cup twice but was runners-up twice in the Super Cup. His crowning glory though was success in the Champions League.
For years, it seemed as though everything Henderson touched turned to gold but even he couldn't salvage his job at the next project at Manchester City. Tasked with an offensive line-up, Henderson seemed to struggle at adapting his tactics and although there were runners-up medals in the Inter-Toto Cup, the hierarchy at the Etihad fired Henderson for only the second time in his career.
While there are a number of England supporters disappointed with the appointment on the back of that spell at Man City, it's well worth remembering that Henderson has delivered teams that play attractive football and also work hard off the ball at the same time. Are these traits that you saw at the European Championships?
He has also shown a ruthless streak in his dealings in the transfer market. Players who fans had become accustomed to were suddenly sold when Henderson felt that they no longer bought into his ambition or were simply not good enough. Doesn't that remind you of one famous Scottish manager at Old Trafford? Granted, working in the transfer market is not the same but these are traits that every England supporter bemoans a lack of when it comes to selecting the more 'established' names in the England squads.
More information about the appointment will be announced tomorrow when Mark Henderson faces the media for the first time. If you have any questions to ask the England boss, share them with us below.