Two Champions League winners now joint favourites to be next England manager – Amazing turnaround


 
 
 
 
 
 

The identity of who will be the next England manager has seen a complete turnaround.

When Gareth Southgate stepped down, it was assumed by pretty much everyone that the new boss would be homegrown again.

That the experiment of having Sven-Goran Eriksson and then Fabio Capello back in the day, was not going to be repeated.

Eddie Howe was swiftly made favourite to be next England manager, with the bookies making Graham Potter and interim boss Lee Carsley the next most likely.

However, with the Newcastle United boss having made clear that he won’t be leaving St James’ Park to be the new England manager, or indeed the new manager anywhere else but NUFC, that ended The FA hopes of appointing by far the best and most obvious English candidate.

Out of work Graham Potter also appears to have no interest, then the defeat to Greece seems to have ended Lee Carsley’s hopes, plus having given hugely conflicting quotes in interviews and press conferences, nobody even has a clue whether the interim boss would even take the job if offered it.

Which now appears to leave the job between two Champions League winning managers…

At least according to the bookies.

The weekend brought media claims that Thomas Tuchel had been in talks with The FA and then that was followed by an even more intriguing exclusive on Monday from The Times (see below), saying that Pep Guardiola had been approached by The FA and was going to decide in the next few weeks what his future plans are. The Man City boss currently set to see his contract end in eight months time.

The net result of all this, is that now it is all change in the betting to be the next England manager.

With the three English candidates now all apparently not contenders and the next most ‘obvious’ homegrown contender being Frank Lampard(!!!!), it is difficult to see anything but a third overseas appointment, as things now stand.

This is now the betting on Tuesday morning from Bet365 on the next permanent England manager:

6/4 Pep Guardiola

6/4 Thomas Tuchel

8/1 Eddie Howe

8/1 Lee Carsley

10/1 Graham Potter

40/1 or higher the rest…

The Times exclusive – 14 October 2024:

‘Pep Guardiola has been sounded out about becoming England’s next manager and is expected to decide on his future in the coming weeks.

It is understood the Football Association made informal contact with the Catalan at the start of this season. While the FA are considering other candidates and no decision has been made on a permanent successor to Gareth Southgate, Guardiola would be the standout option should he choose to end his stay at Manchester City.

Guardiola, who is yet to respond to the FA, is out of contract at the end of the season and has not decided his next move. City want him to remain at the Etihad Stadium into a tenth season.

When asked about his future on Sunday, Guardiola said on Italian TV show Che Tempo Che Fa: “Leaving City? It’s not true, I haven’t decided yet. And it is not even true that I will be the next England coach. If I had decided I would say it… I don’t know either, anything can happen.”

Guardiola will make a decision in the coming weeks as he wants to make sure that he does not leave City in the lurch if he decides to depart. Out of respect to City, he wants to give them clarity on his future as early as possible so they have enough time to sound out a potential replacement if he leaves.

There is a belief among coaching staff at St George’s Park that Guardiola is top of the FA list.’