Rio Ferdinand joins Wayne Rooney in backing Harry Redknapp for England

LOSER: Rio Ferdinand You're captain of your country and one of the most respected defenders in the Premier League. Now you're not. Injuries caught up with Rio Ferdinand this year, and his lack of games were enough for Fabio Capello to unceremoniously stri (GETTY IMAGES)

Rio Ferdinand today joined Wayne Rooney in endorsing Harry Redknapp as his choice to become England's new manager.

Former captain Ferdinand, hoping to play for his country at Euro 2012 this summer, believes his former West Ham boss is the man best suited to succeed Fabio Capello, who dramatically quit last night.

Manchester United defender Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: "I think we need an English manager now, we don't need anything else lost in translation....Harry Redknapp would be my choice by a distance."

Capello resigned following showdown talks with Football Association chairman David Bernstein at Wembley over the FA's decision to go over his head and strip John Terry of the England captaincy.

Tottenham boss Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion charges earlier yesterday.

Rooney wrote on Twitter last night: "Gutted capello has quit. Good guy and top coach. Got to be english to replace him. Harry redknapp for me."

Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton agreed, telling Sky News: "I think it's maybe Harry's time. He plays the game the right way."

The FA will hold a press conference at 1200 today at which they are expected to provide more information on Capello's departure.

Sir Keith Mills, a non-executive director at Tottenham, says the club will wait to see what develops regarding Redknapp and the England job.

"I think we're jumping the gun a little bit here," Mills said on BBC Radio Five Live.

"Whether Harry will be approached is not a foregone conclusion.

"If he is, then Harry has got a big decision to make."

Former England manager Graham Taylor believes Redknapp is "made for the job" of leading the national team.

Taylor, who succeeded Bobby Robson as England manager after the 1990 World Cup but failed to steer the team to a place in the 1994 tournament, claims 64-year-old Redknapp has the ideal qualities for the position, and is at the right stage in his career.

The job has become available four months out from the Euro 2012 finals, and while Redknapp is involved in a Premier League title battle as manager of Tottenham.

Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live: "What I'd say about Harry is his age. If I could change anything I just wish the offer of the England job had come towards the end of my career, not when I was in my mid-forties.

"I just think that taking the England job is far better when you're coming towards the end of your career than when you're a young man. I think Harry is in many respects made for the job.

"You only have the England players together for so long, they come from different clubs, and they organise and prepare at their clubs in different manners, so you've got all of these different things to sort out and Harry I think is capable of doing that. He has this very good relationship with players."

Taylor is struggling to see beyond Redknapp when it comes to likely candidates for the job.

"The public want him, the players want him, sections of the media want him, so that's how it looks at the moment," Taylor said.

And Taylor, who has also managed Watford, Aston Villa and Wolves, can see the England squad responding positively to the situation Capello's departure has left them in.

"In a strange kind of way, having all of these problems I think will pull a squad together," Taylor said.

"I think the squad as a whole have a better chance to do better than many people expect.

"I think there could be a surprise for us here."

Speaking during a visit to Sweden, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I am sorry to see Fabio go. I think he was a good coach and a good man. I don't think he was right about the John Terry issue. You can't be captain with that question mark that needs to be answered.

"England now needs a new coach and a new captain and I hope we can get on with that and make the best of the opportunity this summer."

Asked if Redknapp should take over, he said: "The day when the Prime Minister picks the England coach will be a very bad day for football but I am sure we will find someone really good and I am sure that we will play well when the time comes."

More on England...

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Fabio Capello: The highs and lows in charge of England

Who's next? The contenders to replace Fabio Capello

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