Former England international Frank Lampard has called on the Football Association to take inspiration from Germany and adopt a more forward-thinking approach.
The Three Lions are on the lookout for a new boss following Roy Hodgson's departure last month, coming on the back of the disappointing Euro 2016 showing in France.
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is thought to be the leading contender to take over the vacant job, having held talks with FA chiefs this week, but Lampard would also like to see a former player brought on board.
"It's a tough one," he told Sky Sports News. "But the best managers are taken and do they want the England job? I think we need to look at it from a different avenue; maybe look at having an older, more experienced head with a younger manager to try and blood the younger manager and a team together.
"When you look at English managers and the experienced set - there are experienced managers in the Premier League that have been there many years. I like the idea of that personally. The German model is great. They've had ex-players in there like Oliver Bierhoff before, who was the face of it, then Joachim Low working, Jurgen Klinsmann before that, and I think we can get a bit more of a family. I think the FA needs to change itself.
"The FA needs to be a little more forward thinking. When I spoke to Dan Ashworth, to be fair, he was very forward thinking. We had a chat. Consultancy sounds kind of strong. It was a phone call, it was my opinions on what happened at the Euros, where I see it going, what my feelings are of when I played for England, and what I can see with the team now."
Klinsmann, who took charge of Germany at the 2006 World Cup on home soil before making way for Low, is also thought to be among those to have been interviewed by the FA.
Daniel Lewis
