Bruce interviewed for England job

LONDON – Hull City’s Steve Bruce said on Tuesday he had been interviewed by the F.A. for the vacant England manager job.

His newly promoted Premier League club said on Monday that Bruce had held talks with F.A. vice chairman David Gill, technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Martin Glenn.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is the favorite for the job, having also been interviewed to succeed Roy Hodgson, who quit after England’s dismal showing at Euro 2016 where it suffered an embarrassing defeat by Iceland in the last 16.

British media said the F.A. would like to make an appointment this week if possible and by next week at the latest.

“Who wouldn’t (want to be England manager), if you’re English?” Bruce told Sky Sports ahead of a pre-season friendly against Mansfield Town on Tuesday.

“It’s got to be the one prime job any Englishman can ever want to have. I’m highly flattered and extremely grateful to even be considered,” added the ex-Manchester United defender.

“Any Englishman worth their salt would be really, really proud to be England manager. If anything happens, then let’s see what the rest of the week brings and, if it does, happy days.”

The F.A. wants an English manager although it has spoken to the United States’ German head coach Juergen Klinsmann as well as Bournemouth’s English coach Eddie Howe, said British media.

Asked how his interview went, Bruce, who has led Hull back into the top flight after relegation to the Championship in 2015, said: “You never know with an interview. I hope it went OK. I put my case across and let’s hope I’m successful.

“But then again I’m up against a big pal of mine in Sam, and apparently there’s some other candidates in the mix too.

“What I said in the interviews has to remain there. But we’ve got to take away the fear, especially at tournaments.

“We’ve only won one of our last seven games at two tournaments, and we’ve got some good players, especially young players. That’s got to be the main thing,” added Bruce.

Ventura defends record

Rome — Italy’s new coach Giampiero Ventura, officially presented on Tuesday, said he should not be judged by his lack of major titles and that he had enjoyed “other victories” in his long career.

Ventura, the second-oldest coach to occupy the post, praised the work of his predecessor Antonio Conte, who led Italy to the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 before it lost on penalties to Germany.

The 68-year-old Ventura has enjoyed a long, steady coaching career although, apart from one season at Napoli, he has never worked at any of the biggest clubs and has spent part of his time in the lower divisions.

“If you are not the coach of one of the big five teams (Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli and Roma), then it is almost impossible to win the title,” he told reporters.

“In terms of winning the Champions League, I haven’t done that but I have had other victories in my career such as the young players I have helped develop and reach the national team.”