LIVE Roy Hodgson, England Press Conference: Watch Unveiling Of New England Manager

Hodgson has just been confirmed as the national team's new manager in a statement on the Football Association's website. He has been handed a four-year contract.

After nearly three months of silence about the identity of Fabio Capello's successor, the news comes after a whirlwind 48 hours. The FA confirmed that they had approached the West Bromwich Albion boss, and that he was the only man they were talking to about the job, on Sunday evening. Four-hour long talks were then held with the four-member Club England Board charged with naming the national team manager, yesterday. Hodgson was reportedly back at Wembley to rubber-stamp the agreement on Tuesday morning.

Hodgson is expected to fulfill his duties as West Brom manager for the remaining two games of the Premier League season before fully-focusing on leading the England team into Euro 2012. Hodgson's contract at the Midlands club was due to expire this summer.

There was an element of surprise when the FA revealed that Hodgson was the man they were lining up for one of soccer's most high-profile and high-pressured jobs. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had been much championed by the British tabloid press and was the overwhelming favorite for the job.

However, it appears that the FA have gone for the man with significant experience in international soccer.

The 64-year-old spent a hugely successful three-year spell in charge of Switzerland in the early 1990s. During that time he led the small European nation to the last-16 of the 1994 World Cup in the U.S., as well as taking them to the dizzy heights of the No. 3 in the FIFA rankings.

Hodgson has also managed the nationals teams of the United Arab Emirates and Finland.

The appointment of Hodgson will surely come as recognition of his managerial skills in his homeland after a career that has been largely appreciated overseas.

The man who began his career in management in 1976 has won titles in Sweden with Halmstad and Malmo, as well as enjoying two spells in charge of Italian giants Inter, where he won the Uefa Cup.

After a largely unsuccessful year in charge at Premier League side Blackburn between in the late 1990s, Hodgson returned to England in 2007. After taking over a Fulham side deep in relegation trouble, Hodgson oversaw a miraculous escape from the drop, before leading them to the final of the Europa League.

A short, tumultuous spell at Anfield was followed by his current tenure at West Brom, where he has guided them into midtable.