All good things must come to an end and it could well be that the reign of England’s most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey is drawing to a close.
Gareth Southgate does not intend to make a decision on his future until after Euro 2024, when he will sit down with the Football Association to assess the situation. His contract runs until the end of the year, giving both parties plenty of time.
In eight years since reluctantly taking over Southgate became the first England manager to reach a major tournament final in 55 years, finishing runner-up at Euro 2020, and guided the country to a first World Cup semi-final in almost 30 years at Russia 2018.
But his tenure has been dogged with fierce criticism and he was awfully close to stepping away after the Qatar World Cup, convinced to stay on by the support of players, staff and the way the team were not publicly slaughtered for the defeat to France in the quarter-finals.
After the unexpected success of Southgate, the FA are expected to follow a similar blueprint, so who fits the bill?
Eddie Howe – Newcastle
Arguably the prime candidate, the FA have long courted Howe, strongly considering him for the job to replace Roy Hodgson and Sam Allardyce due to his phenomenal work at Bournemouth back in the 2010s but deciding that, still in his 30s, Howe needed more time. His reputation has only soared since then, but it may be too soon for Howe.
Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal manager, once told Howe that he should not jump into such a pressure role so soon in his coaching career (Wenger turned down France in his younger years).
In 2022 Howe said the England job was not something he was imminently interested in and in October last year it was claimed that he would not be interested again. While last season his stock was at its peak after guiding Newcastle United into the Champions League and reaching the Carabao Cup final, this season has proved far tougher.
But Newcastle’s Saudi Arabia owners remain supportive of Howe and the stars may not quite be aligned yet.
Graham Potter – out of work
Potter, 48, was a leading candidate to replace Southgate if he decided to step aside after the last World Cup, but at the time he had just started at Chelsea and, like Howe, he wasn’t prepared to leave such a high-profile job to coach England.
But Chelsea quickly unravelled and he has been out of work for almost a year, biding his time for the right opportunity. After earning the chance at one of the Premier League’s leading clubs, only for it to be cut painfully short, Potter is eyeing another high-profile position.
Still, they are tough jobs to land, with Tottenham Hotspur looking elsewhere last summer. And by the time Euro 2024 is over Potter will likely know if jobs at Liverpool and, potentially, Manchester United have passed him by.
Gary O’Neil – Wolves
Last season, O’Neil steered Bournemouth away from relegation playing entertaining football and many considered his sacking unfair. He has certainly proved how wrong Bournemouth’s owners were after joining Wolverhampton Wanderers who, against the odds, are already well clear of relegation and eyeing a European spot, and entertaining again.
O’Neil, 40, is known for his meticulous, astute preparation for opponents, excellent communication on and off the field, natural man-management and a multi-system tactical model that could be perfect for knockout international football.
His ability handling public duties will be a strong selling point. The England job comes with intense pressure, even during successful times, and the incumbent is expected to answer questions on thorny issues.
Unlike some of his contemporaries with eyes on coaching in the Champions League, O’Neil would likely see the England job too good to turn down.
Steve Cooper – out of work
Southgate had been in the FA’s England system before he became the first-team manager, as Under-21s head coach.
Similarly, Cooper, 44, spent five years as head coach of the U16s and U17s — winning the U17s World Cup and finishing runners-up in the European Championship. He worked with several current England players, such as Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi.
His impressive record landed him the Swansea job before moving to Nottingham Forest and taking them into the Premier League.
Lee Carsley – England Under-21s
Could the FA perform a repeat of 2016 and turn to the England U21s manager to work miracles again?
The landscape feels very different now, with many more suitable candidates for the role and the job far more attractive than it was.
At the time, England were in a low ebb after major tournament disappointments under Hodgson and Allardyce leaving in a storm of scandal.
Jose Mourinho – out of work
Mourinho was first approached by the FA at the height of his powers when the position became available after Steve McClaren was sacked in 2007. At the time, Mourinho did not believe international football would hold his interest and he had many more trophies to win in England, Italy and Spain.
But after being sacked by Roma recently should the FA opt for a megastar name, Mourinho has qualities that point to the potential for success in international management: his siege mentality, motivational skills and record in knockout football.
Still, it would feel like a step backwards if the FA went down this route again.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/pPfFwb8
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