<P> The role of an England national football team manager was first established in 1946 with the appointment of Walter Winterbottom . Before this, the England team was selected by the "International Selection Committee", a process in which the Football Association (FA) would select coaches and trainers from the league to prepare the side for single games, but where all decisions ultimately remained under the control of the committee . A 1--0 defeat by Switzerland prompted FA secretary Stanley Rous to raise Winterbottom from "National Director of coaching" to "Manager". </P> <P> Eighteen men have occupied the post since its inception; four of those were in short - term caretaker manager roles: Joe Mercer (seven games in charge), Howard Wilkinson (two games, a year apart from one another), Peter Taylor (one game) and Stuart Pearce (one game). In comparison, Winterbottom held the position for the longest to date; a tenure of 16 years, comprising four World Cups and a total of 139 matches . Alf Ramsey is the only manager to have won a major tournament, winning the 1966 World Cup with his "Wingless Wonders". No other manager has progressed beyond the semi-finals of a major competition before or since, with only three managers achieving a semi-final appearance: Bobby Robson at the 1990 World Cup, Terry Venables at Euro 1996, and Gareth Southgate at the 2018 World Cup . </P> <P> Swedish coach Sven - Göran Eriksson became the first foreign manager of the team in January 2001 amid much acrimony; he helped the team to three successive quarter - finals in major championships . Italian manager Fabio Capello replaced Steve McClaren in December 2007, after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 . Capello's side endured a lacklustre performance during the 2010 World Cup, but the FA confirmed that he would remain in the role . However, Capello resigned in February 2012, following a disagreement with the FA over their removal of John Terry's captaincy . He was replaced, on a caretaker basis, by Stuart Pearce, before Roy Hodgson was named as Capello's permanent replacement in May 2012 . Hodgson's contract finished on 27 June 2016 as England were knocked out of UEFA Euro 2016 by Iceland in the round of 16 . Sam Allardyce was announced as his successor a month later, but subsequently left the role after just one competitive match . He was replaced on a caretaker basis by England under - 21 coach and former England international defender Gareth Southgate, whose position was made permanent after four matches . </P>

Who was the england manager when they won the world cup