The battle to find the full-time successor to Gareth Southgate, who resigned as manager of England, is beginning to heat up. Lee Carsley, coach of England Under-21s, was put in as interim manager, but his aspirations of landing the job full-time took a dent when his team lost 2-1 to Greece in the Nations League.
With a number of the so-called big-name candidates having moved into new employment – Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola being two such examples – the FA must now decide which of the remaining candidates to appoint. Who will lead England into the next chapter of international football?
Lee Carsley: The Interim Manager
Lee Carsley had to take the mantle for England in an interim capacity following Garett Southgate’s exit and began promisingly enough with two successive victories. However, that defeat to Greece exposed some possible tactical fallibilities, with the plan to use Jude Bellingham as a false nine when packing the midfield raising many an eyebrow onlooker. The defeat was not the worst, but it gave doubt about his long-term ability with the senior squad.
He remains in contention because he knows the system from working in England’s youth ranks and made a flying start with the Under-21 team. His emphasis on more attractive, possession-based football has been welcome after Southgate’s more pragmatic approach. However, Lee Carsley has said that if he doesn’t get the England Management job, he will be happy to return to the Under-21 setup. In any case, his interim appointment runs only until next month’s UEFA Nations League final round.
Pep Guardiola: The Dreamed Candidacy
Manchester City’s founder of greatness, Pep Guardiola, has long spoken about a desire to coach a national team. In February, he reiterated a wish to coach at a World Cup or European Championship; he instantly became the bookmaker’s favorite to take the helm of the Three Lions, having enjoyed great success already. His tactical brilliance makes him an exciting prospect.
The issue is that his contract at City expires at the end of the season, and it is still far from certain that he will extend it. While City would like him to, whether Guardiola does so might depend on what happens at the club, with City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, also finishing then. In that scenario, perhaps waiting until the summer of 2025 may not be right for the FA – the gamble in his good book to get a high-caliber manager.
Eddie Howe: Rise to Prominence
Eddie Howe has also been one of the most impressive English managers recently; in July, he received 19% of fan votes to become Southgate’s successor. Since Howe took over Newcastle United in 2021, he has turned the Magpies into a top-four Premier League side. His ability to turn Newcastle into a Champions League contender in such a short time has not gone unnoticed, and his tactical methods even fit with the progressive style the FA may be after.
Against all that, Howe has seemed content with his role in Newcastle, where he built quite a project at St James’ Park, signing on long-term to stay. However, reports of frustration about the summer transfer activity in Newcastle may have opened the door to the possibility that Howe would be open to new challenges. Whether he can be tempted from such a challenge at Newcastle for that of England remains a big question for the FA.
Jurgen Klopp: The Respected Veteran
The first top candidate to be considered for the vacant position in England was Jürgen Klopp. The circumstances have changed since then, though. When he left Liverpool, he said that he’d be taking an extended break from management. His appointment as Global Head of Soccer for the Red Bull group certainly suggests he hasn’t entirely been stepping away from the football world.
While Klopp would bring undoubted experience, charisma, and a winning mentality to the England role, his latest appointment has seemingly ended any genuine aspiration that he would be taking over. Klopp has used social media to double down on previous comments suggesting that he will not return to full-time management, which essentially ruled him out of running.
Graham Potter: The Tactician
Another candidate to fill in most of the boxes is Graham Potter. The Englishman, formerly in charge of Chelsea and Brighton, with an attack-minded style of football, is currently out of work. His tenure at Chelsea was cut short after a quite poor spell, but his work at Brighton – making them a progressive, dynamic side – is still highly regarded.
Potter has been open about a future interest in managing club and international football. In recent interviews, he spoke positively of Southgate’s work and supported the selection process of the FA. Still, Potter did not mask his openness should that opportunity come his way. With Potter’s tactical flexibility – especially with the development of young players being so important – perhaps Potter might be pretty appealing to the FA as they look to maintain a long-term vision for England’s future.
Kieran McKenna: The Whiz Kid
Kieran McKenna might not be one of the more well-known names out of this bunch, but throughout the English game, he is thought of by many in incredibly high regard. He is an Ipswich Town boss who has managed back-to-back promotions with the side, leading the Tractor Boys from League One. Having worked with Manchester United and Tottenham through their youth ranks, McKenna has an excellent reputation with youngsters and a great interpretation of how to approach the modern game.
Considering his reputation, McKenna is still young for such a high-profile role. He has spoken of being very happy with his work at Ipswich. He perhaps enjoys club football’s on-field, on-the-training-ground challenges more than the less-regular international version. Whether he is ready for such a massive leap is debatable, but his name is certainly one for the future.
Conclusion
All their futures will be shaped to a great degree by whoever becomes the next permanent manager of England. Lee Carsley has the advantage of knowing his way around the youth system, while Pep Guardiola has ambitions of managing a national team. Eddie Howe is an emerging star of the Premier League, providing an English option, while Graham Potter brings tactically astute credibility. Long shots for various reasons, Klopp and McKenna nevertheless ensure the FA are not short on interesting choices. The tough decision now comes, and how it shall unravel to get the man who will take charge in the next chapter of the Three Lions remains anybody’s guess.
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