LONDON (Reuters) - Fabio Capello became the bookmakers' frontrunner to take over as England manager on Friday after Aston Villa coach Martin O'Neill ruled himself out of the running.
With a rapidly expanding list of managers distancing themselves from the position left vacant by Steve McClaren's dismissal on Thursday, Capello sounded a rare note of eagerness.
"I am ready to discuss becoming the England national coach," Ladbrokes' 2-1 favourite told Italian media.
"It would be a very interesting challenge and to me difficult challenges have always been fascinating," added the 61-year-old former Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus coach.
Portugal's former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was the second favourite, at 4-1 with Paddy Power, despite newspaper reports suggesting the 'special one' was more likely to move to a top European club.
"I was convinced that Mourinho would have accepted it... clearly, he has other targets. But I am a different age to him," said Capello, who was sacked by Real in June for his defensive style despite winning the Spanish title.
Italy's former World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi, a 33-1 long shot with William Hill, refused to rule out the possibility of a move to England but doubted he would get a call. "If it comes, we will see," he said.
KLINSMANN TIP
Former German captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer sang the praises of Juergen Klinsmann, who led Germany to third place at last year's World Cup and played in England for Tottenham Hotspur.
"One name comes immediately to mind. Juergen Klinsmann," Beckenbauer wrote in Bild. "The England job would be ideal for him and he would be ideal for England."
O'Neill, 55, an early favourite for the job after being interviewed last time around, told a news conference before Saturday's Premier League game at Middlesbrough that he was committed to the Midlands club.
"I want to do this job and that really should end it (the speculation)," said the former Northern Ireland international.
"You are talking about a door being shut but it may never have been open in the first place."
McClaren, who took over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after last year's World Cup finals, was dismissed after England lost 3-2 to Croatia and failed to qualify for the 2008 European championship.
Since his departure, a string of home-grown managers have distanced themselves from the most pressured and thankless job in English football.
Newcastle United's Sam Allardyce, another of the contenders last time around, said he intended to honour his contract to the club.
He was followed by West Ham's Alan Curbishley in saying 'no' while Welshman Mark Hughes signed a new contract to June 2010 with Blackburn Rovers.
Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp, at 6-1 with Sky Bet, was the highest rated Briton and Chelsea manager Avram Grant gave him his support.
Former England striker Alan Shearer was at 16-1.
With England's next competitive match not until next September, when they begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, FA officials have no need to make a rushed appointment.
In case they needed reminding, Eriksson said he was not interested in the job either.
"I have no idea who is going to be the next England manager and I have no opinion," said the Swede, now in charge at Manchester City. "It's not my business."
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; editing by Trevor Huggins)
