Who will be the next permanent England manager? Lee Carsley no longer the leading contender

In a rather predictable appointment, Carlsey stepped up to replace Gareth Southgate, who brought his eight years in charge to an end after defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

Carsley picked up a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in his first match and followed that up with a 2-0 success over Finland. During October's international break, the Irishman suffered a 2-1 defeat to Greece but bounced back with a 3-1 victory away in Finland.

Question is, should the FA stick with Carsley?

 

Thomas Tuchel (4/7)

Tuchel rocketed up the market to as short as 10/1 when the England job became available. He's currently unemployed and has a record of getting teams over the line, winning the Champions League with Chelsea will be at the top of his CV no doubt.

However, most recently he was the man in charge of Bayern Munich when they lost their 11-year stranglehold of the Bundesliga.

He also wears a baseball cap all the time, which at international level is one down from holding a brolly.

Nevertheless, in recent weeks Tuchel has climed up the list and is currently the favourite for the job at 4/7.

 

Lee Carsley (4/1)

Carsley has been England Under-21s boss since July 2021, he led his young Lions to European Under-21 Championship victory in 2023. But his forays into club management, mainly as a caretaker, can only be described as 'meh'.

Southgate's appointment was from within the FA and Carsley would be a continuation of that. He is fully dipped in England backroom HR and the interim nod follows that path.

Safe, straight and unlikely to have anyone leaping up and down in delight.

His price has dropped since the end of the Euros. 10/1 on the day after the tournament, which dropped like a stone to 5/2 after Southgate cashed in his chips.

Four games into the role, Carsley is now priced at 4/1.

 

Pep Guardiola (6/1)

The fact Guardiola features high on the bookmakers’ list needs no justification. But does his fire still burn bright enough to consider the job?

The 53-year-old Spaniard is arguably modern football’s most influential manager and would be the best bet to get the maximum out of England’s talent.

He has entered the final 12 months of his deal at the Etihad Stadium, but remained tight-lipped on the role when he sat down to preview this weekend’s clash at Wembley.

Guardiola said: “I have to decide what I want to do in my life. If I want to continue here, take a break, train national teams or not.

“Right now I am here and as you arrive at the competitions my energy rises again so I am fully excited for the season because I see things that I like here.

“It’s a challenge to break our own records. We will see the ambition of ourselves. I’m looking forward to us all coming back together and we will see how we behave.”

 

Graham Potter (8/1)

Potter had been on a steep upward trajectory before being sacked by Chelsea after less than seven months in April 2023.

Currently out of work, he previously performed miracles in Sweden with Ostersunds and steered Brighton to what was at the time their highest Premier League finish, with Pep Guardiola describing the Seagulls’ progressive football as “a joy to watch, a joy to analyse”.

He has been the main favourite for the last month, and is still a short price.

Potter's refusal to be drawn into the speculation surrounding his possibly candidacy just adds fuel to the fire.

 

Eddie Howe (8/1)

The Newcastle boss, one of only three English managers in the Premier League next season, would be a popular choice.

The media-savvy 46-year-old delivered Champions League football at St James’ Park for the first time in 20 years and took Bournemouth from League Two to the Premier League and kept them there for five seasons before leaving in 2020. Howe's sides also play an attacking brand of football, which is what England fans have been craving.

In July, Howe revealed that he had “absolutely no contact” from the FA over the role. 

 

Frank Lampard (40/1)

Lampard has spent his managerial career being given big jobs that he doesn't deserve because of his reputation as a player.

Flopped at Everton and Chelsea (twice), he needs to show he can properly cut it at a lower level before being given another role. Missing out in the play-off final with Derby isn't enough.

He doesn't even look convincing in that Intuit QuickBooks advert, so why would England suit?

His price has hardly moved in a month.

 

Kieran McKenna, Michael Carrick, Jose Mourinho, Ange Postecoglou (40/1+)

Bookies getting lazy and throwing any managerial names into the hat at this level.

But worth keeping an eye on depending on how the start of the 2024/25 season goes.

 

Jurgen Klopp (80/1)

The charismatic former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp quickly ruled himself out of the running, but we all know that a big chunk of cash can quickly change anyone's mind.

The German has recently taken a job with Red Bull and is unlikely to move anywhere else for the time being. 

He does not want to manage another Premier League club, and the bookies still have him at 80/1 to take the England manager's job.

Sam Allardyce (200/1)

Perfect record with England...no, don't be silly. Keep your money in your pocket.

 

READ MORE: Next Premier League manager to be sacked odds: Eddie Howe and Ange Postecoglou early contenders