The Football Association (FA) has started looking for a new England manager after Gareth Southgate resigned following Euro 2024. Southgate, who took the role in 2016, led England to their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years in 2018 and their first major men’s final in 55 years at Euro 2020.
Sky Sports reporters Kaveh Solhekol and Rob Dorsett discuss potential candidates to replace Southgate, noting that the FA is open to hiring a manager of any nationality, though FA chief executive Mark Bullingham prefers an English manager. Despite this preference, the FA is not limiting its search to English candidates.
Bullingham emphasized the importance of having top home-grown talent in both playing and managing roles. On the eve of Euro 2024, where England lost to Spain in the final, he reiterated this sentiment.
FA technical director John McDermott has a good relationship with Mauricio Pochettino, a potential candidate, from their time at Tottenham. Other names mentioned include Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and former Chelsea manager Graham Potter. Howe recently signed a multi-year contract extension with Newcastle, making his potential move costly for the FA.
The FA aims to appoint a new manager before England’s Nations League campaign starts in six weeks. If they cannot make a permanent appointment by then, current England U21 manager Lee Carsley may serve as an interim manager.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville argues that the next manager should be English to continue the development of English coaches. He believes that giving the role to an international manager would undermine this goal. Neville also highlights the need for English coaching to catch up with other top footballing nations.
The FA has an interim solution ready if needed and will not comment further on the recruitment process until an appointment is made.