England came so close once again to international glory this summer, but the Three Lions' defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final has left the national team heartbroken after falling at the final hurdle for the second time in succession.
The result has brought about the end of Gareth Southgate's tenure as England boss, with the ex-manager stepping down to kickstart the FA's first managerial search since 2016 when Southgate replaced Sam Allardyce in the role.
So who could replace Southgate? With few obvious options to choose from, here’s a look at who is being backed to succeed the 53-year-old and take England into the 2026 World Cup…
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Manager
Current team
Odds
Graham Potter
n/a
6/5 fav
Lee Carsley
England U21
3/1
Eddie Howe
Newcastle
5/1
Jurgen Klopp
n/a
8/1
Mauricio Pochettino
n/a
8/1
Thomas Tuchel
n/a
12/1
Frank Lampard
n/a
20/1
Pep Guardiola
Man City
20/1
Michael Carrick
Middlesbrough
33/1
Steven Gerrard
Al-Ettifaq
33/1
1 Graham Potter Free agent (last job: Chelsea)
Graham Potter may have just muscled his way to the top of the reckoning at the right time, with the ex-Chelsea boss reportedly a favourite of the FA ahead of the potential vacancy that has now emerged.
However, it would be a remarkable jump for him to go from excelling at just underneath the top level of the Premier League to being given the national job. That said, he has proved himself to be a shrewd tactician, so perhaps the international setup would suit him. Cynics could also argue he has turned down numerous job offers in order to bide his time ahead of a potential opening at England.
One word of caution: favourites have been turned down before, most recently when Roy Hodgson pipped Harry Redknapp to the top job back in 2012.
Age
49
Active since
2011
Former teams
Ostersund, Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea
No. of trophies
3
Major honours
Svenska Cupen (2017)
2 Lee Carsley England U21
One of the more predictable appointments would be a relative outsider in England U21 boss Lee Carsley. Appointing the former Everton midfielder would be akin to Southgate’s own path into the job (without an undercover journalist bringing the previous manager down, of course).
Southgate’s highlight as U21 boss was winning the Toulon Tournament in 2016; four months later, he replaced Sam Allardyce in the senior team.
Carsley recently led the Young Lions to U21 Euros glory last summer, with James Trafford’s heroics securing a faultless campaign as they went the entire tournament without conceding. With this kind of pedigree and how well it seems to have worked for Southgate, perhaps Carsley is further up the wishlist than some may think. It is also worth noting Carsley's odds have shortened considerably since the beginning of Euro 2024.
Age
50
Active since
2012
Former teams
Brentford, England U20
No. of trophies
1
Major honours
U21 European Championship (2023)
3 Eddie Howe Newcastle United
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has long been high up the list of potential managers to succeed Southgate. His rise up the English game is one to be admired, and the fact he is now flourishing at the top level suggests he has a style that is adaptable to his squad’s needs, but the lack of international experience and domestic silverware may count against him.
It may also be worth noting that his odds had drifted in recent weeks, though England's defeat and the ensuing rumours over Southgate's future appears to have put Howe in the limelight once more.
Age
46
Active since
2008
Former teams
Burnley, Bournemouth
No. of trophies
1
Major honours
None
4 Jurgen Klopp Free agent (last job: Liverpool)
This one could take some doing. Jurgen Klopp seemed to indicate that he would be taking some time out following his emotional exit from Liverpool at the end of last season.
However, after claiming that he was unable to handle the intense, day-to-day nature of club management when announcing his Anfield departure, perhaps the international calendar will appeal to him more. With Julian Nagelsmann set to continue in charge of his native Germany beyond Euro 2024, it could be a viable option for England, however unlikely it may seem.
Age
57
Active since
2001
Former teams
Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool
No. of trophies
14
Major honours
Champions League (2019), Premier League (2020), Bundesliga (x2), FA Cup (2022), DFB-Pokal (2012), EFL Cup (x2), Super Cup (2019), Club World Cup (2019)
5 Mauricio Pochettino Free agent (last job: Chelsea)
Free from the clutches of the Stamford Bridge owners who ousted him despite his relative successes in west London last term, Mauricio Pochettino is once again a free man.
His knowledge of the English game and desire to promote youngsters at club level will be sure to work in his favour if he was to take on the job, though he has notably not won a major trophy as a manager outside of Paris Saint-Germain. Unfortunately, there’d be no unlimited transfer market fund available to him here.
What is interesting is how his odds had shortened previously – he was 9/1 at the start of Euro 2024 before becoming the outright favourite before the round of 16. How much England's uninspiring start at the tournament factored into that is unknown, but the fact he has drifted again with Southgate hurling his side to another final before his resignation suggests he may be an unrealistic appointment.
Age
52
Active since
2009
Former teams
Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham, PSG, Chelsea
No. of trophies
3
Major honours
Ligue 1 (2022), Coupe de France (2021)
6 Thomas Tuchel Free agent (last job: Bayern Munich)
Thomas Tuchel has been linked with a return to England even before departing his most recent role at Bayern Munich, with the German being mentioned as a potential recruit for Manchester United and former club Chelsea, though both clubs will not be hiring him anytime soon.
With these openings off the table for the moment, the England job could yet be another role that piques his interest. But as with many others on this list, his lack of international pedigree will count against him, even if he has excelled on the continental stage at club level.
Age
50
Active since
2007
Former teams
Augsburg II, Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Chelsea, Bayern Munich
No. of trophies
11
Major honours
Champions League (2021), Bundesliga (2023), Ligue 1 (x2), Coupe de France (2020), DFB-Pokal (2017), Coupe de la Ligue (2020), Super Cup (2021), Club World Cup (2021)
7 Frank Lampard Free agent (Last job: Chelsea)
Frank Lampard may not have the international – or even basic managerial – achievements as some of the competition here, but he does have first-hand experience of England dressing rooms and knowledge of what the missing pieces were at major tournaments. Southgate will have no doubt filled in some of the blanks for him, and maybe someone more embedded with the modern game is something England need to take that final step.
It would feel like a risk all the same, but his knowledge and level of analysis appeared to present himself as a good candidate to his fellow BBC pundits during the European Championship.
Age
46
Active since
2018
Former teams
Derby, Everton, Chelsea
No. of trophies
0
Major honours
None
8 Pep Guardiola Manchester City
Upon their latest Premier League triumph, questions started to be asked about Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City, where the Spaniard is set to enter a ninth season in what is the final year of his current deal.
Guardiola has become well accustomed to English football culture (albeit, he’s only recently learned what ‘squeaky bum time’ is) and it’s not clear what his next move would be. Spain may well have a similar vacancy if their own Euros campaign doesn’t go to plan, but having tried to persuade Jose Mourinho to take the job in the past, Guardiola could well be high on the FA’s list.
Age
53
Active since
2007
Former teams
Barcelona B, Barcelona, Bayern Munich
Trophies
39
Major honours
Champions League (x3), Premier League (x6), Bundesliga (x3), La Liga (x3), FA Cup (x2), DFB-Pokal (x2), Copa del Rey (x2), EFL Cup (x4), Super Cup (x4), Club World Cup (x4)
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A former England midfielder with experience at international tournaments, there are few on this list with closer ties to the England team than Michael Carrick. His own venture into management sees him at Middlesbrough, where he aims to secure Premier League promotion next term – unless the FA was to pick up the phone.
Despite his name being in the running, this job surely comes far too soon among a crowded field of more suitable candidates. International management very much seems to be a specialist role, and plucking a young manager from the second tier in the hope of succeeding at the next World Cup seems too improbable.
Age
42
Active since
2021
Former teams
Man Utd (caretaker)
No. of trophies
0
Major honours
None
10 Steven Gerrard Al-Ettifaq
Steven Gerrard is no doubt revered by many in the game, though his standing in managerial circles is a little baffling at present.
His tenure at Rangers was satisfactory to say the least, as he ended their long wait for a Scottish Premiership title and denied rivals Celtic a tenth in a row in the process.
However, his shortcomings in Europe at Ibrox, as well as during subsequent spells at Aston Villa and Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq, are hardly worthy of him becoming the next Three Lions boss. Then again, they did give Big Sam the job…
Age
44
Active since
2018
Former teams
Rangers, Aston Villa
No. of trophies
1
Major honours
Scottish Premiership (2021)