HE arrived by car, along the Bayswater Road, not by walking across the Serpentine, but Glenn Hoddle carried a conviction upon his appointment as England coach yesterday that suggests he believes miracles will not be required.

The 38 year old made his bow with the same grace and economy that characterised his playing career. Faced with an audience of more than 100 reporters, 50 cameramen and 13 television crews Hoddle looked as if he has been preparing to lead England all his life.

Which is not surprising, because he has. "I. have had a burning ambition to do this since I was a very young age," he said at his unveiling in a hotel near Hyde Park. "It is the only job, in England or abroad, which I would have left Chelsea for."

Hoddle has signed a four year contract, estimated at close to £300,000 a year, which starts on June 1st. He will not, however, be actively involved with the England squad until after the Euro '96. Terry Venables, understandably, wants the team to concentrate exclusively on the championships. The first scheduled fixture for Hoddle is a World Cup qualifier, away to Moldova, on September 1st.

Flanked by Graham Kelly, the chief executive of the FA and the man who appointed him, and Venables, who he succeeds, Hoddle looked relaxed but wary. No different, in fact, to his approach when dealing with the media after Chelsea matches.

Hoddle, who put an end to months of speculation and 48 hours of indecision on Wednesday night, said. "It is a privilege and an honour, that it why I took it.

"My ambition is to be successful, the talent is there. There is a crop of exciting young players coming through which gives me the chance to do well. I want to do so in a manner which is close to my heart and, I believe, close to the public's as well.

Hoddle said the appointment would be "the pinnacle of any management career." His own started at 17, when he coached an Essex Sunday league side while still an apprentice at Tottenham. The experience, he said later, was useful but it was frustrating trying to explain ideas to players not good enough to understand them.

The same problem appeared to dog his early days at Chelsea but, this time, he will be dealing with players capable of putting his ideas into practice. Not only will they be the best the country had to offer, they have already been directed towards a more accomplished style by Venables.

"Terry's work has been a major influence on my taking over," said Hoddle. "It would have been wrong to come in if the tactics had been totally different. That would have been too drastic a change.

"The way Terry has been playing has been very brave at times. He knows exactly what he wants and the team now know what he wants. For me it is very exciting, the last two performances have been superb."

Venables warmly approved Hoddle's appointment. "I coached him when he was in the under 21's and he was always keen to look at new things even then. I have not had much contact since but, when I had a meeting with the managers whose clubs had been in Europe we got talking and it was obvious we had thoughts along the same lines."

Hoddle will be back at work today, preparing Chelsea for Sunday's match with Blackburn Rovers. He intends to say a special good bye to the supporters then "it was heart rending to leave," he added.

Then, with the cameras about to stop clicking and whirring, there was an intriguing postscript. Asked if he would one day, like to return to coaching En gland Venables said. "Yes, of course, I have made it very clear that I've enjoyed it. There have been difficult times but ii is a privilege. If the chance came, I would consider it seriously but not for four years.

That time is for Hoddle to make his mark. He will be 42 by then. Will he have put a fresh trophy into Lancaster Gate, or will he only a have head of grey hair to show for it. Wish him luck, for he will need good fortune as much as good judgment.