Hitz Only Rumours... Or Is It?

By Matthew Jones
December 30 2003

The Football Association have today denied that they have drawn up a shortlist of possible candidates to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson.

One recent press report claimed that they had identified Bayern Munich boss Ottmar Hitzfeld as the man they want to replace Sven - who has been linked with a move to Chelsea. Sven didn't seem too happy to receive the offer of an extended contract recently either!

However, the FA are insisting that they want Sven to take England into Euro 2004 and stay on afterwards.

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "Sven is the number one candidate for the job. He's already in place and he's the man we want to remain in place long-term."

Hitzfeld has guided two clubs to Champions League success - he certainly has things going for him, and the FA would surely have to have names lined up incase Sven WAS to resign?

But do we really want a German managing England?

"I don't know what this is all about," the 54-year-old told TZ.

"I definitely want to see out my contract in Munich until 2005."