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Who could replace Gareth Southgate as England manager?

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5 months ago

July 16, 2024

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Who could replace Gareth Southgate as England manager?

England manager Gareth Southgate has resigned two days after leading the national side to their second Euros final defeat in a row.

The 53-year-old leaves as only the second Three Lions boss to lead the side into a major tournament final – with the other being Sir Alf Ramsey during that famous World Cup win in 1966.

Southgate, who also led England to the World Cup semi-final in 2018 and the quarters finals in 2022, had faced criticism this summer from fans who felt he was failing to get enough out of such a talented squad.

However, he undoubtedly leaves enormous shoes to fill after giving fans genuine hope during tournaments where previous England sides had typically underwhelmed.

As Southgate hangs up his waistcoat for one final time, we take a look at those who could be set to replace him.

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Eddie Howe

The current Newcastle manager has long been tipped to take over the Three Lions one day and is on the FA’s shortlist to be the next England manager, Sky Sports News understands.

The 46-year-old has impressed since becoming Newcastle boss in 2021 – securing a fourth-place finish in the 2022/23 Premier League season, meaning they qualified for the group stages of the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

Howe had previously impressed at Bournemouth, where he achieved promotion twice in three seasons to lead them from League One to the Premier League between 2012 and 2015.

However, he could prove to be a more expensive England appointment than other candidates – with the issue of compensation potentially needing to be paid for a manager already in a job.

Howe signed a new “long-term contract” with Newcastle in 2022, but it was never revealed exactly how long that was for.

It is also thought he would have to take a significant pay cut to take on the national manager’s job, which may be another sticking point.

Graham Potter

The former Chelsea boss is another Englishman thought to be on the FA’s shortlist.

Potter has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in the spring of 2023 – just seven months after making the move from Brighton.

However, the 49-year-old is still highly thought of and has reportedly turned down a number of job offers since then in both the Premier League and in Europe.

Potter earned his reputation at Brighton during an impressive spell as manager between 2019 and 2022.

He had led the team to ninth place by the end of the 2021/2022 Premier League season – their highest ever league finish at the time.

Lee Carsley

The England Under-21s boss is being tipped by some to make the step up to managing the senior side.

It would mean he would be following in the footsteps of Southgate, who managed the Under-21s himself between 2013 and 2016.

Carlsey would be taking over after leading the side to glory at last year’s European Championship – where, coincidentally, they beat Spain 1 – 0 in the final.

Although he was born in Birmingham, he represented the Republic of Ireland during his playing career through his grandmother, who is from County Cork.

However, Carlsey turned down an offer to manage the Republic of Ireland national team in March.

Mauricio Pochettino

The Argentinian manager, known for his focus on attacking play, is another former Chelsea manager on the FA’s shortlist, Sky Sports News understands.

The move would mean Pochettino would be reunited with some of his old players – having worked with Harry Kane during his impressive spell as Tottenham boss, and with young talent Cole Palmer, who he managed at Chelsea.

Pochettino is looking for a new job after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent at the end of the 2023/24 season.

England’s difficult history against Argentina in the World Cup (see Diego Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ in 1986 and Diego Simeone helping to get David Beckham sent off in 1998) would potentially make Pochettino’s appointment difficult to stomach for some Three Lions fans.

He would certainly need to win over some supporters if he does get the job.

Thomas Tuchel

The German tactician is yet another former Chelsea boss being linked with the England job.

The 50-year-old has been out of work since leading the Bayern Munich team that failed to win Germany’s top flight for the first time in 11 years.

However, Tuchel is undeniably one of the best coaches around and would likely be considered a great appointment by many fans.

He has strong pedigree in tournament football – having led Paris Saint-Germain to the Champions League final in 2020, before winning the competition with Chelsea the following year.

How would England fans feel about a German taking over the helm?

For some, it might take success on the pitch to wash away memories of England’s painful exits at the hands of the Germans in tournaments gone by.

Jurgen Klopp

Another German manager being linked to the role is former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

The 57-year-old’s brand of “heavy metal football”, which helped him lift both the Premier League and Champions League trophies during his time on Merseyside, would mark a huge change from the more conservative approach favoured by Southgate.

However, despite being among the favourites with many bookmakers, Klopp has not expressed an interest in taking the England job and he is not reported to be on the FA’s shortlist.

Former England striker-turned-pundit Gary Lineker is one high-profile name who is keen to see Klopp’s trademark toothy grin in the Three Lions dugout, saying on the Rest Is Football podcast: “Maybe it’s time for someone else with a more modern, attacking style of football… Wouldn’t you go all out for Jurgen Klopp?”

Pep Guardiola

One of the outsiders with the bookmakers is Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

The Spanish master tactician has won the Premier League six times with the Sky Blues and the Champions League three times – once with City and twice with Barcelona.

The high demands he places on his players means he would arguably be the best bet in terms of helping the squad fulfil its potential – but there is no suggestion he would be keen to take up a role with the Three Lions, or that England will approach him.

Jose Mourinho

After nearly 60 years without a trophy, many fans of the England men’s team might feel the club is in need of something “special” to help them end the long wait for silverware.

Step forward Jose Mourinho – the Portuguese manager who famously referred to himself as “a special one” when he took over Chelsea in 2004.

His notoriously defensive tactics might not go down well with fans but his ability to win trophies cannot be denied.

However, the 61-year-old is currently managing the Turkish side Fenerbahce and is thought to have his sights on managing the Portuguese national side one day.

Mourinho, like his old nemesis Guardiola, is an outsider with the bookmakers.

Frank Lampard

The retired England midfielder is the fifth former Chelsea manager being linked with the Three Lions job.

The 46-year-old, who has also managed Derby County and Everton, has not come close to the same heights as a coach as he did as a player and is not among the favourites to replace Southgate.

Stephen Gerrard

The former England and Liverpool captain is another outsider being linked with the now vacant Three Lions job.

However, much like Lampard, Gerrard’s managerial career has not yet come close to what he achieved on the pitch.

Gerrard was sacked as Aston Villa manager in October 2022 with the club sitting just above the relegation zone.

He is currently the manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, where he has signed a contract keeping him there until 2027 – meaning any England approach could turn out to be expensive if they wanted to make him manager.