Aluko backs Jill Ellis for England job after Phil Nevillie
Nigeria born former England international Eni Aluko has thrown her weight behind USA women’s coach Jill Ellis to replace Phil Neville when his contract expires as England women’s coach.
Aluko who recently retired from football after showcasing her skills with Juventus ladies side .Jill Ellis led the United States to glory in the 2015 and was also on song last year when he repeated the fit in France, and Aluko believes she is the right man for Three Lionesses job.
Emma Hayes and Casey Stoney have also been linked but the former Chelsea ace insist the forner USA coach who resigned last October after leading the USA women to a resounding victory in France stands tall among her peers.
Neville’s deal was set to take in the Women’s European Championship, but UEFA’s confirmation of the tournament being delay until 2022 due to the coronavirus crisis means he will no longer be in the hotseat for it.
“I think Jill Ellis is definitely the candidate that is potentially going to move this on and bring silverware to the England team,” the former England forward said on the Football Show on Sky Sports.
“The England Women’s team now are at that point where they’re getting to semi-finals and now need to be getting to a final and winning it; winning World Cups, winning European Championships.
“The only person I think that is in the best position to do that, having won back-to-back World Cups, having won the Olympics with the US national team, is Jill Ellis.
“I think she has that pedigree, she has that experience, she’s worked with some of the best footballers, elite athletes, in the world,” she said
Aluko however sees a problem in FA wanting to invest the kind of money Ellis may ask for.
“I think the only problem would be with Jill Ellis is the contract she’s probably going to command is going to be very, very high and it’s whether the FA are willing to invest that amount of money,”
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Aluko who made over 107 appearances for England scoring 33 goals in the bargain played for over seven clubs in the course of her close to two decades romance with football. She last played for Italian side Juventus scoring 15 goals in 27 appearances.