Gareth Southgate may have managed his last England match – and the focus of fans has switched to who may replace him.
Spain broke Three Lions’ hearts with a winner just four minutes from time on Sunday evening, after substitute Cole Palmer had levelled the score with a stunning left-footed strike just 13 minutes earlier. On the balance of the game, a Spanish victory was a fair result as Luis de la Fuentes’ side became the first side to win all seven games in a UEFA Euro.
Since Southgate’s appointment in 2016 he has improved the fortunes of the national team reaching two finals – in Euro 2020 and 2024 – one semi-final – at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 – and a narrow quarter-final defeat against France at the 2022 World Cup. However, the long wait for international success remains, regardless of his achievements with the squad.
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After full-time in Berlin, the 53-year-old was questioned on his future, telling BBC Sport: “Now is not the time for me to speak about that. I need to talk to the right people and give myself a bit of time. To get to another final… it was a privilege to have the opportunity. But to come up short is hard at the moment.”
Voicing his disappointment when speaking to ITV, he said: “Of course to take England to two finals has never been done but we came here to win and we haven’t been able to do that.” As the fanfare disperses the inevitable question of ‘Will Southgate leave?’ will be on supporters’ lips. So, who could be the next England boss?
Do you think Gareth Southgate should be replaced as England manager, and if so, by who? Let us know in the comments section below
Graham Potter
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Former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter is the bookmakers’ favourite according to Betfair – he is a 1/1 odds favourite to take up the role if Southgate is to depart.
The 49-year-old has been without a job since leaving the Blues in April 2023 despite being linked with several jobs across Europe in the last year. Potter may provide a free flowing attacking football allowing flair players such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Palmer to excel – Southgate was widely criticised for his pragmatic style during the tournament.
Potter spent much of his playing career in the football league but did represent the three lions with a single Under-21s cap in 1996. Since making the switch from the pitch to the dugout he has managed in Sweden – he managed Ostersund to two successive promotions as well as the Svenka Cupen (Swedish Cup).
Mauricio Pochettino
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The former Spurs and Chelsea boss is the second favourite according to Betfair with odds of 5/2 to become the next England manager. The Argentine exited Stamford Bridge after a much improved second half to the season – Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League as well as reaching the Carabao Cup final and FA Cup semi-final.
The 52-year-old is already familiar with a number of players in the current group – he managed Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Harry while at Tottenham as well as aiding the development of Connor Gallagher and Palmer at Chelsea last season.
Eddie Howe
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The Newcastle boss has been a long-time link to the England job since his days at Bournemouth. In recent years he has improved his chances by overseeing Newcastle’s 2022/23 Premier League season which saw them finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Champions League in the process. Since then, the Magpies’ form has dipped slightly but they still managed a seventh place finish in 2024 but were pipped to a European spot by Manchester United who won the FA Cup.
In May when speaking on The Overlap to former England defender Gary Neville, Howe said: ” Talking on the national team, my big memories were watching youplay for England. That era was very much me in my early years forming a love with England and wanting them to do well, having that feeling of devastation when we didn’t quite make it over the line.
“I loved that feeling of watching the national team, I was submersed in it. I love England and I hope they go on to win the Euro’s this summer, and I think they can. I love Gareth and I’ve got a real determination for England to win. I’ve never really thought about international football for me, personally. Who knows what will happen in the future.”
The 46-year-old is currently third favourite with odds of 7/2 to become the next England manager.
Pep Guardiola
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A man who needs no introduction, Guardiola would be a dream appointment for most England fans – he has won trophies in Germany, Spain and England most recently securing a fourth consecutive Premier League title taking his career silverware tally to a staggering 34.
The 53-year-old could stop management now and still be considered one of the greatest to ever grace the dugout – however Guardiola is obsessed with winning and having won everything available on the domestic stage could this be the time to transition into international managment. The former Barcelona midfielder’s contract is set to expire in June 2025 and he remains tight lipped about signing a new deal at the Etihad Stadium.
When discussing the propect of international management, Guardiola previously said: “A national team. I would like to train a national team for a World Cup or a European Championship. I would like that. I don’t know who would want me! To work for a national team they have to want you, just like a club.”
Guardiola has odds of 15/2 to become the next Three Lions gaffer.
Lee Carsley
(Image: PA)
The former Everton midfielder may not have the prestige attached to his name of Pochettino or Guardiola but an appointment could be a safe bet for the FA. Since retiring from professional football in 2011, he has made his way up the ranks – he managed Coventry City, Brentford Development Squad, Manchester City Under-18 among others before securing the England Under-20s job in 2020. Carsley then progressed to England Under-21s leading them to UEFA Euro Under-21 success in 2023
The 50-year-old is familiar with many of the next generation of players including already capped Jarrad Branthwaite, Levi Colwill, Curtis Jones, Anthony Gordon and Palmer who were all part of the success in 2023.
He was targetted by Republic of Ireland – who represented as a player – in 2023 but rejected the offer to become manager, speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “I went to speak to them. Really informal, enjoyable, for around an hour. It went no further.
“It was good to see what their thoughts were and to explore whether I was ready to take that next step. It just went no further. I didn’t push it.”
With a FIFA World Cup in North America two years away, now could be the perfect time to take the reigns and implement an already exisiting blueprint into men’s senior football.
Carsley is fifth favourite at 9/1 odds according to Betfair.