Nine candidates who could replace Gareth Southgate as England boss from Pep Guardiola to Sarina Wiegman
ENGLAND are already thinking ahead in case manager Gareth Southgate leaves after Euro 2024.
Southgate‘s contract runs out next year and his future will largely depend on the Three Lions’ performance in the European championship in Germany.
If the 53-year-old departs then the FA will be no short of quality options to replace him in the dugout.
Pep Guardiola has been earmarked as the association’s top pick to take over and push England to glory, just like he did with Manchester City and Barcelona.
Guardiola’s contract with City expires just a year after Southgate’s and the Spanish tactician is bang in the mix for the job.
The 52-year-old would be a priority but there are other quality options, one of which would pose as a history-making appointment.
SunSport take you through the NINE managers that could replace Gareth Southgate as England boss:
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is the FA’s “dream” pick for the top job.
And England chiefs will ty to lure Guardiola if Gareth Southgate leaves after Euro 2024.
The ex-Bayern Munich boss has previously opened the door to the Three Lions as he admitted he would be keen on crossing over to international football.
A move to his native Spain would be quite unlikely after his public support of Catalan independence.
Sarina Wiegman
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham confirmed he wouldn’t rule out England women’s manager Sarina Wiegman as the men’s next head coach.
Wiegman led the Lionesses to European Cup glory in 2022 and then took them to this year’s World Cup Final where they lost to Spain.
The Dutch tactician is the only manager – male or female – to lead two different teams to a World Cup Final, having also finished as a runner-up with the Netherlands to the USA in 2019.
Thus, the 53-year-old could indeed become the first ever woman to manage a men’s national team next year, although her contract with the Lionesses expires in 2025.
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Eddie Howe
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has long been touted as a future England boss.
It all started during Howe’s time at Bournemouth when he led the Cherries to Premier League promotion in 2015.
The 45-year-old has since been turning heads at St James’ Park as he led the Magpies to a top-four finish last season and a subsequent return to the Champions League.
Graham Potter
Graham Potter has been out of a job ever since his controversial dismissal by Chelsea last season.
However, Potter is still highly-rated after his stunning three-year stint at Brighton.
In fact, FA technical director John McDermott met colleagues to discuss potential successors prior to the 2022 World Cup and the 48-year-old was mentioned.
Lee Carsley
England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley couldn’t be ruled out for the top job as current England manager Southgate was appointed while he was also in charge of the Young Lions in 2016.
Carsley led the youth team to a stunning Euro 2023 triumph this summer that saw them winning every game and conceding no goals.
Steve Cooper
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has enjoyed tremendous success and love at the City Ground after leading the club back to the Premier League following a 23-year absence from the top flight.
But Cooper is no stranger to the England set-up as a former manager of the Under-16s and Under-17s.
The 43-year-old was a massive success as he won the Under-17 World Cup in 2017 and made it to the final of the Euros the same year.
Jose Mourinho
Roma boss Jose Mourinho used to be many elite clubs’ dream pick to sit in their dugout.
But Mourinho’s star has started to fade and there are not many top teams chasing the Special One’s signature.
However, England have always been keen on the Portuguese tactician and could come back for him after almost signing him in 2007 only for his wife to change his mind at the eleventh hour.
The two-time Champions League winner knows all about English football having previously worked for Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Steven Gerrard
England could go back to some of their biggest legends to take over the hotseat, such as Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard is currently in Saudi Arabia making big bucks, but such a challenge could convince him to turn his back on all that easy money and move back to elite competition.
The 43-year-old experienced immense success at Rangers and an impressive first year at Aston Villa – so much so, that many consider the Liverpool legend as Jurgen Klopp’s natural successor.
Wayne Rooney
Another legend that knows all about the demands of being England boss is former record goalscorer Wayne Rooney.
Rooney showed signs of promise during his time in charge of Derby, despite the crisis that had engulfed the club.
The Manchester United legend has also shone bright in the MLS as DC United boss as he was also picked to manage the competition’s All Stars to face Arsenal this summer.