Who will be the next England manager? The bookmakers are already busy offering punters a wide range of potential replacements for the now-departed Gareth Southgate.
The former Three Lions boss announced his resignation in a typically classy style, thanking the FA, his players, backroom staff and fans for their support and imploring them to continue to support the team and whoever comes in to replace him.
However, after a Euro 2024 that saw England reach the final, but produce stuttering, ineffective and defensive displays, Southgate’s position had become untenable unless England were to win the tournament.
Spain’s 2-1 victory was fully deserved and effectively sealed Southgate’s fate. Especially after he faced fierce criticism from pundits and fans due to picking the same players for almost every game, refusing to change personnel or tactics despite very poor performances throughout the tournament.
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Southgate’s Favourites
One particular bone of contention for fans was Southgate’s going back on his word to play the in-form players in his teams. Despite poor form, a number of England players were continually selected, not just for the squad for the first team. Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire and latterly Kyle Walker and Harry Kane just four of those players that Southgate seemed to favour over other options.
England fans were frustrated in particular during Euro 2024 as England stuttered and stumbled through the tournament with only very limited playing time for the likes of Cole Palmer, Ivan Toney, Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins.
Southgate also underused one of England’s top creative talents in Trent Alexander-Arnold, dropping the Liverpool star from the team after playing him out of position and then when he adopted a formation where Alexander-Arnold would thrive, as a wing back, he never played him in that role.
The Liverpool man was one of a number of players, such as James Maddison, Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford, who seemingly fell out of favour with the England boss at various points during his reign.
These are issues the next England manager will need to deal with.
Who Will Replace Gareth Southgate as the Next England Manager?
Whoever is the next England manager will have big shoes to fill. Despite the issues that plagued Southgate over the last few years of his eight as England manager, he is still the second most successful manager in England’s history.
Let’s now take a closer look at some of the names that have been strongly linked with the role of next England manager in the press and who have had their odds priced up by bet365 Sport.
Graham Potter – 3.50
While Potter didn’t have a great time at Chelsea, he wasn’t really given enough time to produce the results the Chelsea hierarchy wanted. As proved by Mauricio Pochettino who followed him. However, his results at Ostersunds in Sweden and Swansea and Brighton in England were excellent, but it was the style of football he played that won many admirers and which set the foundations for Roberto De Zerbi to take over at the helm at the AMEX Stadium. He will appeal to the FA as he is out of work at present and could take over the role as the next England manager immediately.
Eddie Howe – 3.50
The other standout English manager the FA will be considering is Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe. The Magpies manager only signed a new deal at the club recently, and Newcastle have made it known that they want to keep him, which may well see these odds drift out in the next day or so. Howe’s achievements are in getting Newcastle into the Champions League and driving Bournemouth’s promotions through the leagues to the Premier League. He, like Potter, hasn’t won a major trophy though. Is that enough to be the next England manager?
Lee Carsley – 3.75
One man who has won a trophy is Lee Carsley. The England U21 manager turned down the role of the Republic of Ireland manager last season to stay with the U21s, whom he coached to Euro U21 Championship success in the summer of 2023, the first time since 1984 that England had managed to win the trophy. However, Carsley has very limited managerial experience, especially at the top level in England and none at all in European competition and this is likely to count against him in the race to be next England manager.
Jurgen Klopp – 11.00
The ex-Liverpool manager is a very firm favourite with many fans, with the notable exception of Liverpool fans, for the next England manager position. A winner at Dortmund and Liverpool, charismatic, tactically astute and attack minded, many experts feel Klopp would be the ideal choice. However, the German quit Liverpool to get a break from football and to recharge his batteries. Is a couple of months away enough to persuade the German to come back? That is very much debatable as Klopp has already turned down a chance to be the United States national team manager.
Mauricio Pochettino – 12.00
Sacked by Chelsea, somewhat surprisingly, at the end of the season after their best run of form of the season. Mauricio Pochettino has a CV the envy of many having managed a number of very big clubs. However, critics point out that he has yet to win anything in England and underachieved with a very talented Paris St Germain. Tactically, he is very good, but he is also Argentinean and it is not known how England or Argentina fans would react to Pochettino taking on the job of next England manager.
Thomas Tuchel – 19.00
Thomas Tuchel is another manager with an impressive CV that includes spells at Dortmund, Chelsea, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich. The German has won trophies and has a strong tactical understanding of the game. He is willing to work and available and as such, he is probably the strongest option of the main three foreign coaches in the betting to be the next England manager.
Frank Lampard – 21.00
The ex-Derby County, Everton and Chelsea manager had a long career as an England player but his time in management has been somewhat mixed. A decent spell with Derby was followed by two lacklustre spells at Everton and Chelsea. Lampard hasn’t shown any reason to be considered as the next England manager, other than he is out of work and has plenty of England experience.
Steve Holland – 21.00
Steve Holland has been Gareth Southgate’s assistant for many years. The FA, if they wanted continuity, could seek to appoint Holland. However, he does not have any managerial experience, he has also famously fallen out with Ben White and if he was moved to coach, England fans would likely not be happy as they want a fresh approach, rather than Gareth Southgate V2.0.
Jose Mourinho – 26.00
The Special One has just been appointed coach of Turkish side Fenerbahce, but he is still very highly valued in England. However, his outspoken style may clash with what the FA would want from an England manager. There is also the fact that Mourinho is likely not to want the job even if he was to be approached and Fenerbahce were to be convinced to let him leave.
Pep Guardiola – 26.00
If the FA were serious about winning, then Pep Guardiola is the man they should target. A serial winner with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Guardiola’s CV is unsurpassed. Sure, he is Spanish, but they are not likely to let Luis de la Fuente leave any time soon. Guardiola has achieved pretty much everything with Manchester City. And he has intimated he may not be around too much longer. He would cost a fortune but he would deliver what the FA wants from the next England manager.
Trophies.
