Wenger to think over England offer

Arsene Wenger, the former coach of Monaco, says he will decide by the end of this month whether to become the Football Association's technical director.

The Frenchman confirmed that he had been contacted directly and offered the position by Glenn Hoddle, the England manager, who played under him in France in the late 1980s.

"I have to think it over," said Wenger from his home in Japan, where he is coaching Nagoya Grampus Eight. "I'm very happy here." Asked whether he might stay in Japan, as his contract expires in December, Wenger said: "It's not out of the question. I have to tell Nagoya by the end of August."

Wenger coached Monaco from 1987 until he was sacked in September 1994. His side won the French league title in 1988 and reached the European Cup-Winners' Cup final in 1992.

The FA have been looking for a technical director since they sacked Graham Taylor as England manager in 1993 after his side failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals.