Lee Carsley has been appointed as England’s interim head coach and will take charge of the team’s September Nations League friendlies.
The 50-year-old moves from his role as the Three Lions’ Under-21s manager and will take charge of England’s games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month and will name his first squad on August 29.
However, the FA have added Carsley could remain in the position “throughout autumn while the recruitment process for a new permanent head coach continues”.
Carsley, who led England’s Under-21s side to European Championship glory last year, replaces Gareth Southgate, who stood down days after the Euro 2024 final loss to Spain last month.
Sky Sports News reported this week the FA have yet to speak formally to many of the candidates on their shortlist. It is clear the governing body will take its time to make the right appointment.
Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and Kieran McKenna remain on the list of possible candidates – alongside Carsley – and while the next England manager doesn’t have to be English, it is thought FA chief executive Mark Bullingham would prefer a home-grown option.
Carsley (left) will step up from England Under-21s manager
Carsley won 40 caps with Republic of Ireland as a player, and he has been an English FA employee for the past four years, working with both the U20s and U21s.
It is not clear whether Carsley wants the job long-term, but it could be seen as the perfect audition for both him and the FA. Southgate followed the same path to the top job. He was promoted from the under-21s in 2016, and given four games in interim charge before then being given a four-year contract as the new England manager.
Rooney: I want Pep but Carsley deserves his chance
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Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s Community Shield match against Manchester United, Pep Guardiola responded to Wayne Rooney’s suggestion that he should be the next England manager.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney says Carsley deserves his chance as interim manager – but named Pep Guardiola as his ideal pick for the role.
The Manchester City manager has one year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium and, in a press conference on Friday, spoke about international football being a possible option for him.
And Rooney added that Guardiola’s style of play would be perfect for an England side looking to end a 60-year trophy drought at the 2026 World Cup.
“I’d like Pep, to be honest! England, now, have to strive for the best managers and obviously Pep would be great, the way he gets his teams playing,” Plymouth manager Rooney told Sky Sports News in EFL 72 Live.
“But Lee Carsley deserves his opportunity. He was a player with me at Everton when we were both younger. He’s a really good person and a good coach. He did really well with the Under-21sand it was a similar pathway to Gareth Southgate.
“He deserves his opportunity and if he does well, you never know? Maybe you’re looking at the next manager. But where we’re looking at now, I’d like to see Pep.
“I’ve said that [it doesn’t have to be an English coach] in the past, I thought Sven Goran-Eriksson did a really good job but then under [Fabio] Capello it wasn’t as enjoyable. So it does impact your thinking.
“But now we’ve had Roy Hodgson, Gareth Southgate and Sam Allardyce for one game. We’re so close to winning something, so Pep with his experience of winning trophies would be good.”
Meanwhile, Burnley manager Scott Parker – who won 18 caps for England – told Sky Sports News: “I’ve not come across Lee too much personally, but he’s been in the system and done an incredible job with the U21s.
“The guys at the FA want that continuity I suppose. I wish nothing but all the best for Lee, he’s coming into something where Gareth did an incredible job and left us in a really strong position as a football nation.”
More to follow…
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