Harry Redknapp for England, says Sven-Goran Eriksson

Harry Redknapp, left, and Sven-Goran Eriksson

Harry Redknapp should succeed Fabio Capello as the next England manager now he has been cleared of tax evasion, says former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Capello, 65, resigned as England manager on Wednesday after a meeting with FA bosses at Wembley.

"I think Redknapp will be a very, very good choice. He's English; he knows his football," Eriksson told BBC Sport.

"[Redknapp] is doing a great job with Tottenham and has done a great job with every team he's had in the past."

The Swede managed the England national team between 2001 and 2006, and says the current Tottenham boss has the necessary CV for the role.

"You need to be an experienced manager used to dealing with the big names and some knowledge about international football would help. I think Harry has all these things."

Capello, who disagreed with the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy pending his trial in July over alleged racial abuse of QPR's Anton Ferdinand, took over in December 2007.

The Italian's £6m-a-year contract was due to expire in the summer, but he left the job following a meeting with FA chairman David Bernstein and general secretary Alex Horne.

BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson agreed that Redknapp was the obvious choice to take the reins.

"It's almost like a shoo-in," he said. "I don't really see any other runners and riders.

"There will be one or two other people getting a mention, but I think it's Harry's job to turn down."

Former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios said of the Tottenham manager: "There is no other stand-out candidate."

Palios added: "There is a patriotic issue involved and I would love an English candidate to be put forward, but you're more concerned about getting the best man for the job.

"Harry Redknapp would be high on the list and he could definitely make that transition."

In September 2010, Redknapp admitted the England job would be "hard to turn down" if he was offered it.

He said: "If you're an Englishman it would be hard to turn it down. It's the pinnacle of your career.

"Honestly, it's not something I sit at home and ever think about. I really don't."

Former FA executive director David Davies believes Redknapp would be the fans' choice to take over.

"If you had a poll of all the football supporters in the country, Harry would be the overwhelming top choice for the job," he said.

"But there are a few other strong candidates, who are also English, and one or two who aren't as well."

Former Portsmouth and Leicester striker and BBC pundit Steve Claridge believes Redknapp is the ideal candidate to succeed Capello.

"He's the right age, it's the right time and I think in the past couple of years he's opened a lot of people's eyes to what he is capable of," Claridge said.

"He is very good tactically and he can get the best out of players without having to spend fortunes."

Graham Taylor, who managed England between 1990 and 1993, says Redknapp is the obvious choice to succeed Capello now that he has been cleared of accepting secret untaxed bonus payments during his time in charge of Portsmouth.

"Should the FA wish to offer him the England manager's job it's a clear path for them," he said.

"Harry Redknapp is well in line to become the next England manager, and now that his innocence has been proved I fully expect it to happen."