The Southgate era is over. He took the Three Lions so close but who can take on the job? In this look at the betting for next England manager, David Easson assesses the FA’s options…
Careful what you wish for, they say. A lot of people actively wanted Southgate out, many said it was the end of the road, thanks and goodbye, the FA seemed to say DON’T GO GARETH!!!
Yet here we are, a World Cup in North America to prepare for. Euro2028 in the UK and Ireland on the horizon, a new golden generation of players (but not left backs) in the squad. Who will take over England and turn 3 Lions into, um...Lionesses?
Graham Potter
The former Brighton (good) and Chelsea (not-so-good) manager is at least FREE, and has turned down some rather large jobs this last few months, including Ajax, Lyon and even Sweden. So what is he waiting for? He was close to becoming the new Leicester boss but that fell through mysteriously. Did he get the nudge from the blazers at the FA?We’ll soon find out. Would his style fit international football? Attacking possession with no hint of goals? Yes please!
Lee Carsley
The smart money might be on the former Everton midfielder who has risen through the coaching ranks to now run a very efficient under-21s side who won their version of the Euros last summer by beating….Spain? Knows a LOT of the players, knows how to win tournaments, but isn’t a big name that the fans would get excited about. But was Southgate? And who’d heard of Spain’s boss? It makes sense this, so there’s clearly no chance it’ll happen.
Eddie Howe
Another season like the last one for Newcastle and he’ll be free by November anyway but the fans up there love him. Plays possession-based football that sometimes does end in a shot at goal so he’s got that going for him. Wages and transfer fee might be a worry for the FA. Still a live contender in this race.
Mauricio Pochettino
For fans of someone who will play Cole Palmer, here’s his boss! Nice guy who never wins anything? That’ll do, get him on the shortlist. An Argentinian in charge of England? That could work… He does play good football and works well with young players, lots of club experience but a feeling that he’s always been the nearly man and that’s just not what England need right now.
Frank Lampard
Seriously?
Jurgen Klopp
After being pilloried by every non-Liverpool fan in the country for warning that players were being overplayed, then we watch Kane and Bellingham have to walk around blowing out of their proverbials by half time, this would be a remarkably weird appointment. Klopp isn’t just football by vibes, but they’d run. My how they’d run. Jurgen is VERY MUCH on his holidays right now.
Thomas Tuchel
Now at 16/1 I can see a German taking the job more than an Argentinian. A proper coach who doesn’t get on with owners, well there are none in international football so he’ll be fine. But again, yes it’s the 21st century but a foreign manager would have to be sensational to fit with England
Pep Guardiola
Which brings me on to… Pep! There’s a chance (however slim you think it is) that City get a points deduction this season that certainly denies them the league and may put them out of it – or nothing happens at all. Pep has always said he would manage internationally, and suggested Brazil. Well how about going one better and settling down at St. George's Park, Pep? Wash your hands of City, jump to the FA and see how the blazer fits.
Seriously, this makes a lot of sense to me – especially at 40/1
Other names internationally I would like to see on the Wembley touchline include Carlo Ancelotti, who rejected Brazil at the last minute last summer and Marcelo Bielsa, who took Uruguay to 3rd place in the Copa America with a formation that would make Sir Alf’s eyes water. They are both more than 66/1
But could he do it without a Kalvin Phillips? Probably not…