The Football Association have confirmed Roy Hodgson as the new England manager.
The 64-year-old has signed a four-year deal, taking him to the end of Euro 2016.
Hodgson will remain in charge of West Brom for the final two games of the Premier League season, although he will be released for England duties as required.
Hodgson admits he will have to win over the England players and supporters after being appointed as Fabio Capello's successor.
But he is aware of the need to prove himself to fans expecting Harry Redknapp to be named in the role, while many of the players had voiced their backing for the Tottenham manager.
Hodgson said: "The scrutiny will be big. I understand that. Inter Milan wasn't exactly too easy, though, when I was there.
"We all know the England manager's job is the pinnacle of success for every England manager but it brings scrutiny and criticism, so I have to be prepared for that.
"It's always a big job to win people over. I'm prepared for criticism. The fact is I took it at Liverpool and I'll take it here.
"It's important the players buy into what we do, and that the country buy into what we're trying to do. I'm expecting a lot of support from everybody.
"I'm hoping everyone in England gets behind their football team, because we want to give this country the successful football team we've been waiting for since 1966."
In terms of gaining the backing of the squad, Hodgson admitted: "Every coach has to win over the players. There's no question about that.
"It won't be the first time I've stepped into a group of players, many of whom I don't know.
"I'd like to think, with my CV, I'll command respect. But every coach has to win the players over, get them on his side, and make sure they're united behind the cause.
"Our cause is a very big one. We are England, the England football team. We interest a lot of people. I have a lot of responsibility - but so do the players."
Hodgson admits the task of England being successful at Euro 2012 has become more challenging given Capello's decision to quit three months ago.
He has only six weeks to prepare before the opening game against France on June 11 and is delaying naming his squad until the end of the domestic campaign.
Hodgson said: "It's going to be difficult, of course. But hopefully I have a lot of time on my hands to make the decisions necessary.
"The players are pretty well known to me, even if I haven't worked with many of them.
"We always have to go into tournaments to win them because we're a major footballing nation.
"It will never be easy, and will be more difficult here because the man who qualified the team isn't with us and I've taken over at a late stage.
"But no-one would expect anything less of us than to go there trying to win it."
Hodgson confirmed Wayne Rooney would be part of his squad despite being suspended for the opening two group matches.
But he wants time to consider other matters including the John Terry-Rio Ferdinand relationship and whether Steven Gerrard, who worked under him at Liverpool, will be his captain.
Hodgson said: "The important thing is to speak to as many players as possible. John and Rio, as respected members of the team, are going to be two I need to speak to.
"Will Gerrard be England captain? That's another thing that will have to be carefully thought out. It's one of the things that will occupy my time in the days ahead.
"But I'm looking forward very much to Wayne Rooney coming to the Euros with us and to his contribution, even if he can't play in the first two games."
Hodgson revealed he had received a good luck message from Redknapp, who has been the odds-on favourite since Capello quit until the FA approached West Brom this weekend for permission to speak to Hodgson.
He said: "I've got great respect for Harry. He's sent me a voicemail message, which I'll reply to, and has been very gracious.
"We're great friends who have unwittingly become rivals, but we'll be friends again."
Roy Hodgson Factfile:
1947: Born on August 9 in Croydon.
1965-75: Player with Crystal Palace, Gravesend and Northfleet, Maidstone and South African side Berea Park.
1976: Starts managerial career with Halmstad in Sweden, winning two championships.
1980: Joins Bristol City as assistant manager.
1982: Appointed manager at Ashton Gate but dismissed within four months after poor run of results when club is taken over by new owners. Returns to Sweden, where he manages Orebro and then Malmo, who won five consecutive championships and two Swedish Cups under him.
1990: Leaves Sweden for Switzerland, taking over at Neuchatel Xamax.
1992: Becomes manager of Switzerland, whom he takes to the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States. Also in charge when they qualified for Euro 96.
1995: Appointed manager of Inter Milan.
1997: Agrees to become Blackburn manager in the summer. While still at Inter, his side lose to German club Schalke in the UEFA Cup final on penalties.
1998: May: Takes Blackburn into European competition for the first time since 1995 but Rovers win only two of their final 11 Premier League matches to fail in chase for title.
November: Sacked by Blackburn with the club bottom of the Premier League, having taken just nine points from 14 games.
1999: Shortlisted for Austria job. Returns to Inter on April 27 as technical director until the end of the season.
Joins Swiss side Grasshopper.
2000: Appointed coach of Danish side FC Copenhagen. Linked with England job after resignation of Kevin Keegan.
2001: May - Takes Copenhagen to the Superliga title.
August: Takes over as coach of Serie A club Udinese.
December 10 - Udinese and Hodgson part company.
2002: April - Appointed manager of the United Arab Emirates.
2004: January - Sacked after leading side to fifth place at the Gulf Cup.
May - Joins Norwegian side Viking FK.
2005: August - Agrees to take over as boss of Finland national team.
2007: November 30 - Quits after failing to secure qualification for Euro 2008.
December 30 - Appointed Fulham manager.
2008: Fulham win four of their last five Premier League games of the season to stave off relegation.
2009: Guides the Cottagers to their highest ever top-flight finish, seventh, and ensures Europa League qualification.
2010: March 18 - Oversees a stunning second-leg comeback against Juventus in the Europa League quarter-final as a 4-1 win takes Fulham into the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.
May 12 - Hodgson's side go down 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in extra-time in the Europa League final in Hamburg.
July 1 - Announced as new manager of Liverpool on a three-year contract.
September 23 - Dumped out of the League Cup on penalties at Anfield by League Two side Northampton.
October 3 - Poor form continues with a 2-1 defeat to newly-promoted Blackpool - again at Anfield.
October 15 - US company New England Sports Ventures, owner of the Boston Red Sox, complete their takeover of Liverpool.
December 29 - Criticises Reds fans after another home defeat - this time 1-0 to Wolves.
2011: January 8 - Liverpool announce Hodgson has left the club.
February 11 - Takes over as West Brom coach after the Baggies part company with Roberto Di Matteo.
May - Takes West Brom to 11th in the table after a strong end-of-season run.
April 22 - Leads his side to a 1-0 win over Liverpool on his first return to Anfield.
April 29 - West Brom grant the Football Association permission to speak to Hodgson about the vacant manager's position.
May 1 - The FA confirm Hodgson as the new England manager on a four-year contract.
The 64-year-old has signed a four-year deal, taking him to the end of Euro 2016.
Hodgson will remain in charge of West Brom for the final two games of the Premier League season, although he will be released for England duties as required.
Hodgson admits he will have to win over the England players and supporters after being appointed as Fabio Capello's successor.
But he is aware of the need to prove himself to fans expecting Harry Redknapp to be named in the role, while many of the players had voiced their backing for the Tottenham manager.
Hodgson said: "The scrutiny will be big. I understand that. Inter Milan wasn't exactly too easy, though, when I was there.
"We all know the England manager's job is the pinnacle of success for every England manager but it brings scrutiny and criticism, so I have to be prepared for that.
"It's always a big job to win people over. I'm prepared for criticism. The fact is I took it at Liverpool and I'll take it here.
"It's important the players buy into what we do, and that the country buy into what we're trying to do. I'm expecting a lot of support from everybody.
"I'm hoping everyone in England gets behind their football team, because we want to give this country the successful football team we've been waiting for since 1966."
In terms of gaining the backing of the squad, Hodgson admitted: "Every coach has to win over the players. There's no question about that.
"It won't be the first time I've stepped into a group of players, many of whom I don't know.
"I'd like to think, with my CV, I'll command respect. But every coach has to win the players over, get them on his side, and make sure they're united behind the cause.
"Our cause is a very big one. We are England, the England football team. We interest a lot of people. I have a lot of responsibility - but so do the players."
Hodgson admits the task of England being successful at Euro 2012 has become more challenging given Capello's decision to quit three months ago.
He has only six weeks to prepare before the opening game against France on June 11 and is delaying naming his squad until the end of the domestic campaign.
Hodgson said: "It's going to be difficult, of course. But hopefully I have a lot of time on my hands to make the decisions necessary.
"The players are pretty well known to me, even if I haven't worked with many of them.
"We always have to go into tournaments to win them because we're a major footballing nation.
"It will never be easy, and will be more difficult here because the man who qualified the team isn't with us and I've taken over at a late stage.
"But no-one would expect anything less of us than to go there trying to win it."
Hodgson confirmed Wayne Rooney would be part of his squad despite being suspended for the opening two group matches.
But he wants time to consider other matters including the John Terry-Rio Ferdinand relationship and whether Steven Gerrard, who worked under him at Liverpool, will be his captain.
Hodgson said: "The important thing is to speak to as many players as possible. John and Rio, as respected members of the team, are going to be two I need to speak to.
"Will Gerrard be England captain? That's another thing that will have to be carefully thought out. It's one of the things that will occupy my time in the days ahead.
"But I'm looking forward very much to Wayne Rooney coming to the Euros with us and to his contribution, even if he can't play in the first two games."
Hodgson revealed he had received a good luck message from Redknapp, who has been the odds-on favourite since Capello quit until the FA approached West Brom this weekend for permission to speak to Hodgson.
He said: "I've got great respect for Harry. He's sent me a voicemail message, which I'll reply to, and has been very gracious.
"We're great friends who have unwittingly become rivals, but we'll be friends again."
Roy Hodgson Factfile:
1947: Born on August 9 in Croydon.
1965-75: Player with Crystal Palace, Gravesend and Northfleet, Maidstone and South African side Berea Park.
1976: Starts managerial career with Halmstad in Sweden, winning two championships.
1980: Joins Bristol City as assistant manager.
1982: Appointed manager at Ashton Gate but dismissed within four months after poor run of results when club is taken over by new owners. Returns to Sweden, where he manages Orebro and then Malmo, who won five consecutive championships and two Swedish Cups under him.
1990: Leaves Sweden for Switzerland, taking over at Neuchatel Xamax.
1992: Becomes manager of Switzerland, whom he takes to the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States. Also in charge when they qualified for Euro 96.
1995: Appointed manager of Inter Milan.
1997: Agrees to become Blackburn manager in the summer. While still at Inter, his side lose to German club Schalke in the UEFA Cup final on penalties.
1998: May: Takes Blackburn into European competition for the first time since 1995 but Rovers win only two of their final 11 Premier League matches to fail in chase for title.
November: Sacked by Blackburn with the club bottom of the Premier League, having taken just nine points from 14 games.
1999: Shortlisted for Austria job. Returns to Inter on April 27 as technical director until the end of the season.
Joins Swiss side Grasshopper.
2000: Appointed coach of Danish side FC Copenhagen. Linked with England job after resignation of Kevin Keegan.
2001: May - Takes Copenhagen to the Superliga title.
August: Takes over as coach of Serie A club Udinese.
December 10 - Udinese and Hodgson part company.
2002: April - Appointed manager of the United Arab Emirates.
2004: January - Sacked after leading side to fifth place at the Gulf Cup.
May - Joins Norwegian side Viking FK.
2005: August - Agrees to take over as boss of Finland national team.
2007: November 30 - Quits after failing to secure qualification for Euro 2008.
December 30 - Appointed Fulham manager.
2008: Fulham win four of their last five Premier League games of the season to stave off relegation.
2009: Guides the Cottagers to their highest ever top-flight finish, seventh, and ensures Europa League qualification.
2010: March 18 - Oversees a stunning second-leg comeback against Juventus in the Europa League quarter-final as a 4-1 win takes Fulham into the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.
May 12 - Hodgson's side go down 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in extra-time in the Europa League final in Hamburg.
July 1 - Announced as new manager of Liverpool on a three-year contract.
September 23 - Dumped out of the League Cup on penalties at Anfield by League Two side Northampton.
October 3 - Poor form continues with a 2-1 defeat to newly-promoted Blackpool - again at Anfield.
October 15 - US company New England Sports Ventures, owner of the Boston Red Sox, complete their takeover of Liverpool.
December 29 - Criticises Reds fans after another home defeat - this time 1-0 to Wolves.
2011: January 8 - Liverpool announce Hodgson has left the club.
February 11 - Takes over as West Brom coach after the Baggies part company with Roberto Di Matteo.
May - Takes West Brom to 11th in the table after a strong end-of-season run.
April 22 - Leads his side to a 1-0 win over Liverpool on his first return to Anfield.
April 29 - West Brom grant the Football Association permission to speak to Hodgson about the vacant manager's position.
May 1 - The FA confirm Hodgson as the new England manager on a four-year contract.