Gareth Southgate’s decision to resign as England manager this morning means the search is now on for a successor.
Whoever replaces the 53-year-old has a tough job on their hands with Southgate guiding the Three Lions to two European Championship finals and the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018.
FA chief Mark Bullingham said this morning the quest to find the next England manager had already started, so who are the leading candidates?
(odds correct at time of publication)
📰 Table Of Contents
- 0.1 Eddie Howe (Newcastle United) – 10/3 with bet365
- 0.2
- 0.3 Graham Potter (no club) – 7/4 with Skybet
- 0.4 Thomas Tuchel (no club) – 16/1 with Betfred
- 0.5
- 0.6 Jurgen Klopp (no club) – 10/1 with SpreadEX
- 0.7
- 0.8 Lee Carsley (England Under-21s) – 9/4 with William Hill
- 1 Fancy a bet on who you think will lead the Three Lions?
Eddie Howe (Newcastle United) – 10/3 with bet365
Having guided Bournemouth from League Two to the Premier League, Howe moved to Newcastle and has enhanced his reputation on Tyneside.
He guided the club away from the lower reaches after being named as Steve Bruce’s successor in November 2021 before his first full season in charge saw them reach the final of the EFL Cup and secure qualification for the Champions League via a fourth-placed finish.
Newcastle found it harder in 2023-24, ending in seventh place and exiting the Champions League in the group stage.
His high press game would sit well with England’s players, although does have a tendency to change tack and sit off stronger teams – a tactic that has not worked for Southgate.
He’s also comfortable with the media although he received justified criticism for refusing to answer questions on the club’s Saudi Arabian ownership.
Graham Potter (no club) – 7/4 with Skybet
Potter has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023 after just seven months in charge. He got his chance at Stamford Bridge following a hugely successful spell with Brighton where he earned a reputation as a progressive coach that played an expansive, possession-based game.
Has earned praise from Pep Guardiola and Marcelo Bielsa for his tactical flexibility.
Potter has worked his way up from ground level having started with Leeds Carnegie before moving to Swedish side Ostersund and then Swansea City.
Thomas Tuchel (no club) – 16/1 with Betfred
Another out of work after leaving Bayern Munich a year into a two-year contract.
Has forged a reputation as one of the most innovative coaches in Europe over the past decade and can boast the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea on an impressive CV.
Won the Champions League with Chelsea and has claimed domestic titles in France and Germany.
Has form for speaking his mind which has caused rumblings with previous employers and may become an issue with the occasionally intrusive English media.
Remains to be seen if the FA would appoint a German to the role.
Jurgen Klopp (no club) – 10/1 with SpreadEX
The dream appointment for many England fans, who would be happy to overlook his nationality given he spent so long at Liverpool.
Currently on a sabbatical after leaving Anfield, it may require some careful negotiation – and perhaps a caretaker for a few months – for the FA to pull this one off.
From a stylistic perspective, Klopp would be a wonderful fit if he could reproduce his high-press, high tempo gameplan with England.
Definitely a long shot, however.
Lee Carsley (England Under-21s) – 9/4 with William Hill
Like Southgate, he would assume the top job having worked with the Under-21s.
Unlike Southgate, he has little managerial experience at club level but did work as head coach at Brentford and was caretaker boss at Coventry City and Birmingham City before moving into the FA system to work with the Under-20s in 2020.
Was promoted to Under-21 boss in 2021 and led the team to the European Under-21 Championship trophy two years later when they beat Spain.
Bit of an unknown quantity and would be viewed as an underwhelming choice. The obvious candidate if England require a caretaker.
