After Gareth Southgate's resignation as England manager following the Three Lions gutting Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain last weekend, who are the favourites to replace the former England boss?
Graham Potter
Former Chelsea boss Potter is among the favourites for the job, having been out of work since being sacked by the Blues in the spring of 2023.
Potter established his reputation during an impressive spell as manager Brighton from 2019 to 2022. The 49-year-old manager led the Seagulls to their highest top-flight finishing position in the club's history during the 2021-22 Premier League season, and gained respect as a top-class manager.
His work at Brighton earned him a move to London however the move did not go to plan, as he was sacked just seven months after making the switch from the South coast.
However, Potter is still held in high regard and has reportedly declined numerous job offers in both the Premier League and European leagues since then.
The Englishman will certainly be on the FA's shortlist, and is a strong contender for the job.
Eddie Howe
The current Newcastle manager is another Englishman who will no doubt be on the FA's shortlist for the role.
The 46-year-old has been successful since taking charge of the Magpies in 2021, leading the team to a fourth-place finish in the 2022/23 Premier League season and securing Champions League qualification for the club for the first time in 20 years.
Prior to his tenure at Newcastle, Howe impressed during his time at Bournemouth, achieving promotion twice in three seasons and guiding the team from League One to the Premier League between 2012 and 2015.
However, appointing Howe as England's manager may come with a higher cost due to potential compensation for his current position. While he signed a new "long-term contract" with Newcastle in 2022, the exact duration was not disclosed.
It is believed that Howe would have to take a significant pay cut to assume the England role, which could be a potential challenge if the FA do decide to go for him.
Lee Carsley
The current England Under-21s manager is also reportedly being considered for the senior role.
If appointed, he would be following in the footsteps of Southgate, who previously managed the Under-21s from 2013 to 2016. Carlsey has already achieved success with the Three Lions, leading the Under-21s to victory in last year's European Championship, defeating Spain 1-0 in the final.
Carsley already knows the England set up inside out, having worked with the Under-21s for several years. This is likely to appeal to the FA.
According to reports Carlsey reject an approach to manage the Republic of Ireland national team in March, despite having Irish relatives. He is clearly committed to his role with England, and is certainly in contention for a promotion to the senior team.
Mauricio Pochettino
The Argentinian coach, recognised for his emphasis on attacking play, is reportedly one of the managers being considered by the FA.
Having previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, the Argentinian is out of a job having left Chelsea by mutual agreement at the end of the 2023/24 season, and could provide an interesting option for the FA.
If appointed, Pochettino would reunite with some of his former players, such as Harry Kane who he worked with at Tottenham and young talent Cole Palmer from his stint at Chelsea.
The historical rivalry between England and Argentina in the World Cup, which involved incidents such as Diego Maradona's 'hand of God' in 1986 and Diego Simeone's role in getting David Beckham sent off in 1998, could make Pochettino's appointment challenging for some English fans to accept.
If offered the role, he would undoubtedly have to win over some England supporters. However, if the FA decide they are open to venturing away from an English manager, he could be a viable option.
Frank Lampard
The retired England midfielder is another former Chelsea boss who has been linked with the England job.
The 46-year-old managed Derby County before making the switch to join his former club. However, he failed to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge and departed the club in 2021, before another unsuccessful managerial spell at Everton
Lampard has not come close to the same heights as a coach as he did as a player, and is an outsider for the England role.
Jurgen Klopp
There have also been rumours linking former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to the vacant England role.
The appointment of Klopp, who is best known for his Premier League and Champions League triumphs with Liverpool, could represent a departure from the more conservative approach that had been favoured by Southgate.
Despite being a favourite with many bookmakers, Klopp has not shown any interest in the England job and is not reported to be on the FA's shortlist.
Many England fans would be against seeing a German manager lead the Three Lions anyway, due to the historic rivalry between the two nations.
Outside Contenders
Despite not being among the bookmaker's favourites for the role, some potential outsiders for the job who England could look to appoint include Pep Guardiola, Ange Postecoglu, Michael Carrick and Thomas Tuchel. However, these are currently unlikely contenders for the role.
Comments