Jamie Carragher has been earmarked as an England manager of the future after being offered a fast track route into the coaching set-up.
Liverpool veteran Carragher is seen by the Football Association as someone with outstanding potential after taking his coaching badges.
The FA have seen big names such as Alan Shearer, Jamie Redknapp and Gareth Southgate swap football and management careers for the TV studio.
But Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA’s director of football development, is determined to keep more talented players within the game and sees Carragher as having the potential.
Carragher will initially be offered the chance to work with one of England’s youth teams, such as the Under-16s, and then be given the chance to work his way up through the ranks.
It is separate from the young English coach the FA want to work with Fabio Capello, although that appointment was first mooted after the World Cup and still no-one has been installed.
Carragher would not be on the bench with Capello, as David Beckham was during the World Cup, but it is clear Liverpool’s former England international is highly regarded at the FA.
Brooking said: ‘We want good young coaches with something to offer to stay in the game, to work with good young players and help them to develop.
‘It’s important that coaches with something to offer stay with us and it’s also important we can show that good young English coaches will get an opportunity at all levels.’
England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce could also be set to take charge of the Olympic team in 2012.
The FA and British Olympic Association have yet to finalize the make up of the team - whether it will be British or separate home nations - but that will be decided early next year.
Pearce’s contract expires after next summer’s Under-21 Championship in Denmark, and Brooking revealed his future role will now be looked at.
Brooking said: ‘The Olympic job is a big job and I’d be surprised if someone like Stuart didn’t ask about it - at least pose the question.
‘He has worked with a lot of the players, helped them develop and I don’t think you can underestimate how big the Olympics will be.
‘We, as hosts, should be there and we’ll see how things develop in the first quarter of next year.’
Brooking was yesterday outlining his vision before a full review of the FA youth set-up is presented.
It comes just months after England’s failure at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and perhaps Brooking’s biggest challenge and goal will be to ensure the release of Premier League youngsters for future Under-17, Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 tournaments.
The FA have already written to every club advising them of next summer’s dates for tournaments, with England already qualified for the Under-21 Championship in Denmark.
But that may cause more club versus rows similar to what happened 18 months ago when Arsenal star Theo Walcott - who is still eligible for next summer - was called up for the Under-21s having also played for the seniors regularly.
That upset Walcott's Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, yet the same may happen again next summer as the Gunners' Jack Wilshere has been capped at full level but has made it clear he wants to play in the Under-21 tournament.
Brooking yesterday made it plain that world champions Spain enforce FIFA rules for the release of players and the FA doing the same is discussed in the forthcoming review.
Ex-England World Cup star Brooking also outlined why the FA are prepared to get tough to ensure players get enough experience, as Spain are the glowing example of playing their best youngsters at every level.
Brooking said: ‘We’ve found this with the seniors, that tournament football is really different.
‘Some players adapt well, others are not good travellers, and it’s vital they get experience and get a tournament mindset in every aspect.
‘The more players and coaches sample that the better. The more clubs release players the better.
‘We want to be able to call up our best players for tournaments within their age groups. That’s important for the players, the coaches and to encourage them to play the right way.
‘You can see that at every level with Spain. They develop players, keep them playing the right way all the way through to the seniors.
‘Spain enforces it and that’s something we could look at but we’ve often relied on the clubs and their understanding so it’s something now for the review.’
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