Brooking handed senior brief
Friday, November 28, 2003
Article summary
The English Football Association has appointed Trevor Brooking as its director of football development.
Article body
Wide brief
The role has been created specifically for the 55-year-old former English international midfield player, and gives him control over coaching and development at all levels of the game. Brooking, who has stepped down as non-executive director of his former club West Ham United FC, will also be involved with eventually appointing a successor to England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson.
'Wonderful challenge'
Brooking told the FA's website: "Quite simply this was an opportunity I could not miss. Leaving West Ham was a huge wrench, but my family and I knew very quickly I was taking the right decision. Everybody knows my passion for English football at all levels. It will be a wonderful challenge to share that passion with the whole football community."
Palios 'thrilled'
FA chief executive Mark Palios added: "I am absolutely thrilled that Trevor, with all his experience, will be joining us at the start of the new year. His reputation inside and outside the game is the very highest, and I know he sees this role as the summit of his career."
Eriksson offer
Palios also announced that the FA has offered Eriksson a four-year contract extension which would expire at the end of UEFA EURO 2008™. The Swedish coach, who took over in 2001 and has led England to qualification for UEFA EURO 2004™, currently has a deal that runs until 2006.
