Your England team reached last month’s Women’s European Championship final. What advice would you offer Fabio Capello as he prepares to lead England into the World Cup finals?

Take it seriously but enjoy the moment. You have to take the experience in because before you know it, it’s gone. But then, he knows that.

It has been suggested that you should succeed Capello in charge of the men’s team. Fancy it?

That might have been a bit tongue-in-cheek, don’t you think? I’m flattered if people see me as a half-decent coach, but I think that was trying to applaud what I’ve done and give the game a bit of recognition. People talk about me going into the men’s game . . . it’s all about opportunities.

How would it work in the dressing room, a female coach addressing a squad of half-naked men?

I’m sure there wouldn’t be anything I haven’t seen before. Why do we make it such a big issue? It wouldn’t be an obstacle for me. In all seriousness, we have men involved in the women’s game. I guess it’d be down to the players. But it’s about the football. I don’t think there’s an issue to affect my ability to coach.

There aren’t many black managers in football, let alone female. Your success in your job makes you something of a role model.

I like to go into schools and clubs to promote the women’s game. I guess I am a bit unique, so I get a lot of opportunities to inspire black kids to set their aspirations high and achieve things.

You sound pretty busy. Would you fancy being the FA’s performance director for women’s football?

Absolutely. I’ve spent 11 years as manager of England, but I also see four other age-group squads, pick up some of the performance stuff, try to work in the development centres and I [as head coach] don’t have enough time to dedicate to it. The game needs it because my job has stretched so much. Because of my knowledge, I see I have a responsibility to the game.

• Hope Powell was the first female to gain her Uefa Pro Licence. She became head coach of the national team in 1998 and, after being appointed OBE in 2002, led them to the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals in China and Euro 2009 final in Finland last month, when they lost 6-2 to Germany.

A week tomorrow, facing Malta in Blackpool (0871 6221953 or ticketable.com/blackpool), they start their qualification campaign for the World Cup in Germany in 2011.