Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has been in the Premier League for 11 years, would be the preferred choice of a number of FA bigwigs, although his close friend and biggest cheerleader, David Dein, is no longer part of the blazer brigade after his exit from the Emirates Stadium.
The FA have already overlooked Sam Allardyce, Martin O'Neill and Alan Curbishley and a compromise candidate could be Jurgen Klinsmann, who came out of retirement to lead Germany in last year's World Cup.
Jose Mourinho, out of football since leaving Chelsea last month, is another major contender after transforming the Blues before his bitter dispute with Roman Abramovich, while McClaren's conqueror Guus Hiddink could also fit the bill.
