Paul Ince and Stuart Pearce to be interviewed for England under-21 manager’s job

PAUL INCE and Stuart Pearce are to be interviewed by the Football Association about the vacant England under-21 manager’s job.

The duo, who were part of the the national team that reached the semi-finals of Euro 96, are on a four-name shortlist to succeed Gareth Southgate in charge.

Former Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill and current England under-20 boss Aidy Boothroyd are the other names in the hunt for the crucial role.

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Pearce has held the job before when he was in the position for six years – only to leave after the flop at the 2013 European under-21 Championship when his highly-rated team lost all of their group matches.

But ex-Manchester United and Liverpool star Ince has never worked for the FA before and would relish the opportunity to take such an important role.

The 49-year-old built up a promising reputation as a manager after hanging up his boots with impressive spells in charge of Macclesfield and MK Dons.

But he lasted just six months in charge of Blackburn when he was given his chance in the Premier League and has since held short-term roles with Notts County, Blackpool and back at  MK Dons.

But his experience as a player will stand Ince in good stead, having also enjoyed a successful spell in Italy with Inter.

Pearce has only held one management role since leaving the FA in 2013, a 32-game stint in charge at former club Nottingham Forest that heralded little success.

Former Watford and Northampton boss Boothroyd is part of the FA fabric having worked there since 2014 at under-19 and under-20 level – and has worked in a caretaker role with the  under-21s in the last two matches.

Cotterill has less pedigree than his rivals for the job, but has plenty of experience developing young players during his time in charge of seven EFL clubs.

The new manager will be given the task of leading the under-21 side in the European Championship in Poland this summer where they have been dran in the same group as the hosts, along with Slovakia and Sweden.