Steve Bruce could be England boss - Sulley Muntari

Mar 27 2011 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

STEVE BRUCE has what it takes to become the next England manager according to Ghana star Sulley Muntari.

With a growing movement for an Englishman to succeed national boss Fabio Capello when the Italian steps down after next summer’s European Championships, Black Cats boss Bruce has been touted as a potential candidate.

And Muntari – who helped Ghana reach the World Cup quarter-finals last summer and who could line up against England in Tuesday’s friendly at Wembley – reckons Bruce has what it takes to succeed on the international stage.

“Steve Bruce is a great manager and he could do the job as well because he can bring the group of players together and bring the best out of them,” said Muntari, who is on loan with the Wearsiders for the rest of the season.

“Plus he is English and he is a top manager so he could do the job. Why not?”

Muntari, inset, also says his old Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, who is now in charge of Spurs and has steered the Londoners to the Champions League quarter-finals, has proved he is worthy of the top job.

He said: “I think Harry would get on easily as England manager if he was asked to take the job because everywhere he goes he has done really well and taken his club on to higher levels. He did it at Portsmouth and he has done the same with Tottenham.

“It was great working with Harry. He always made sure that you were comfortable and he made sure that you were in good shape mentally and physically because he didn’t want to see his players stressed as he wanted to see his players on top form.

“He could bring unity to any squad of players. I know for a fact that he did that with Portsmouth and from what I can see he is doing the same with Spurs. He is a great manager. I am very lucky to know someone like that.

“He is a manager that players want to play for and he is like a father figure too. That is the most important thing because you have to be comfortable with the person you are working with and then everything comes easily.

“He has some similarities with Steve Bruce. It is great working with people like that.”

Muntari suffered a calf problem in Sunderland’s defeat against Liverpool last weekend and is battling to be fit for Ghana’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo today, and Tuesday’s friendly against England.

Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan will sit out today’s game through suspension but will be back to face England, while defender John Mensah is expected to play in both games.

Bruce for England – Sulley