Top 5 candidates who can succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager after defeat in the Euro 2024 Final
Gareth Southgate’s time as England manager could end after his Three Lions squad fell to a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 final on July 14. This makes it two defeats in as many finals in the competition, having lost to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
England’s last and only major international trophy came back in 1966 when they won a FIFA World Cup hosted on home soil. Since then, however, Gareth Southgate has been the only manager to take the team to two finals but has failed to win either.
In what increasingly looks like the ideal time to carry out a change of guard, the media have floated around multiple names as the perfect replacements for Southgate. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top five candidates for being the next England manager.
5. Brendan Rodgers
A manager renowned for coaching his teams to play exciting and attacking football, Rodgers has enjoyed successful stints at Liverpool, Leicester City and Celtic. He won multiple league titles during his time in the Scottish Premiership and even secured an iconic FA Cup win for the Foxes in 2021, but was sacked after the team declined rapidly.
Rodgers has shown a penchant for working with and developing young exciting talents, with Raheem Sterling being one of the finest players he has transformed. With several players fitting this profile, the FA may look to bring him on board as the new England manager but will have to work hard to lure him away from his successful stint at Celtic.
4. Frank Lampard
One of the greatest English players of all time, Frank Lampard’s managerial career unfortunately has not let him scale the same heights as his playing days yet. The Englishman has had two stints at Chelsea and a stint with Everton sandwiched between the two. However, Lampard has been relieved of his duties on each occasion, raising concerns about his credibility.
Former England legend Gary Lineker gave Lampard the green light, saying the current crop of players would instantly respect such a huge icon taking charge. Additionally, Lampard has maintained immense self-confidence in his abilities and could master a turnaround should he be given the right conditions to thrive. This makes him a strong choice for England manager.
3. Graham Potter
Potter has been out of a managerial role since his time at Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea. Reports from media outlets suggest that he has also recently turned down advances from Ajax, Leicester City and Lyon, which indicates that he could be waiting for the FA to reach out to him.
A manager with a very intellectual approach to the game, Potter could be the breath of fresh air that England’s national set-up needs. So far, the team has been pretty rigid and inflexible under Gareth Southgate, with the manager reluctant to play free-flowing football or to make big decisions. The Three Lions have heavily relied on individual brilliance to get by but it has failed to win them trophies. With Potter, they can open the door to the possibility of change.
2. Lee Carsley
Spain manager Luis De La Fuente recently became the first manager to win major trophies for the national team at both junior and senior levels. This only added more weight to the claim that managers who take a similar route have a strong chance of bringing success to the senior setup as well. This is where Lee Carsley comes in.
Carsley has a proven track record of success for the national team, having guided the England U21 team to the European Championship last year. During that time, he has worked with the likes of Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon, who are now part of the senior squad. Adding him to the setup could also help restore squad harmony as he has experience working with a few of the players back when they were boys.
1. Eddie Howe
Newcastle United’s Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi recently left the club and were known backers of Eddie Howe. However, their departure could lead to a domino effect, with Howe yet to decide his future. Considering his achievements and progress with the club so far now could still be a decent time to leave.
An astute tactician, Howe is also accustomed to working with some of the England players at club level, with Anthony Gordon being his primary threat. He is also adept with working with tricky resources, having guided the Magpies to the UEFA Champions League in his first season in charge. However, a lot hinges on whether Howe decides to quit Newcastle, which remains to be seen.
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