The Football Association will prioritise a coach attuned to English football culture over nationality, if Gareth Southgate does decide to leave his job. The 53-year-old is seeking to make a quick conclusion after a few days’ reflection and talks with senior executives, but the association have naturally started to put a plan in place, given the prospect was likely before the Euro 2024 final.
Eddie Howe, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and under-21 manager Lee Carsley are among those currently at the top of the list. Jurgen Klopp would be a consideration, but is not currently interested in returning to the game, having flatly refused an offer from the United States.
The names illustrate how the FA are willing to take a different approach to previous searches, and almost a middle way between an English manager and the biggest names possible. Given how crucial Southgate was to transforming the culture around the national team, the FA would want any candidate to continue that work. That would inevitably involve an appreciation of the nuances around England, which Pochettino naturally has given that his Tottenham Hotspur provided the nucleus of Southgate’s first tournament squad, for the 2018 World Cup.
It is still Howe who is seen as one of the likeliest candidates, although he is also the only one from those five names currently in a job outside the FA. Carsley has long been discussed as a potential senior manager due to his success with the under-21s, winning last year’s European Championship, and is understood to have turned down the Irish senior job partly on that basis.
It could well be considered too early, however, whereas Howe is one of those who has dealt with greater pressures given Newcastle United’s rise since the Saudi Arabian takeover of the club. The recent changes there could also mean Howe is more open to a move. Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi’s departure as directors means there is set to be a direction change at St James’ Park, and they were the two who were most behind Howe’s appointment. The relative uncertainty at least means Howe could more deeply consider a change.
Potter would be an easier appointment given he is currently out of work, and there has been a feeling at some clubs he has turned down other offers in case the English job comes up during what would be a rare window. There might be some questions over how he handled the public side of the Chelsea job, given that England – and especially England at an international tournament – brings much more intense scrutiny.
It is that which is known to be playing on Southgate’s mind, as he considers whether he has now had enough. He has repeatedly mentioned the extent of the focus on him – right up to “ridicule” throughout Euro 2024, and the feeling now is that he is leaning towards leaving.