Gareth Southgate’s contract as England national team coach will end in December 2024. Southgate is still keeping information about his future under wraps because he feels it would be inappropriate to talk about contracts after losing in the Euro 2024 final.
Previously, the English Football Association (FA) was reported to be retaining Southgate regardless of the results in the Euro 2024 final. However, now Southgate’s future is again a big question mark.
Apart from the question of whether Southgate will be retained or not, another question that arises is who will be the coach to replace him?
Here are four coaches who are considered to be able to replace Southgate.
Graham Potter
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Graham Potter is the favourite to replace Southgate. Potter has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in April last year.
Before his time at Stamford Bridge, the 49-year-old’s career seemed to be on the rise. Potter managed to steal the show when he was in charge of Brighton.
Potter has been out of the spotlight since leaving Chelsea. He has been linked with at least a dozen jobs but is yet to join any club.
But Potter’s coaching ability is unquestionable. As a tactician, he is more detailed and flexible than Southgate. But the question is whether he has the right personality to handle the most high-profile job in football.
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino is perhaps the most high-profile manager realistically within the FA’s reach and is known to want the role.
After surprisingly leaving Chelsea at the end of last season, the 52-year-old is now available.
However, Pochettino’s record is not flashy when it comes to winning trophies. Even so, Pochettino was once called one of the highest-rated coaches in European football.
Pochettino has a good relationship with England’s mainstays, from veterans like captain Harry Kane to future stars like Cole Palmer. The latter is also evidence of Pochettino’s ability to develop young players.
It would be interesting if the England national team was handled by an Argentinian coach.
Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe has to be part of the conversation. He is an English manager whose clubs have finished top of the Premier League in the last two seasons.
Since emerging as a manager at Bournemouth, Howe has been frequently mentioned as a potential national team coach. Howe is said to be the brightest young coach in England at the moment.
Howe’s success in leading Newcastle to the Champions League last season was a major achievement. Howe was also considered successful because he was able to keep Newcastle despite many injury problems.
Thomas Frank
Although it is considered thin, Thomas Frank could be an option. At least Frank is an established figure in English football and has national team experience after working with Denmark’s youth teams for half a decade.
Frank has proven himself to be a versatile player. Under him Brentford played some stunning football in the Championship and then went more pragmatic when the situation demanded it in the Premier League.
Often, he switches formation seamlessly from week to week, an aspect that has been underrated in England’s last two Euros.
His managerial attributes are better than Southgate’s. He is adored by his players, confident and tactful in front of the media.