The FA have reportedly drawn up a shortlist of potential candidates to replace Gareth Southgate if he decides to step down as England manager after they lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
The Three Lions were beaten 2-1 in Berlin on Sunday as Mikel Oyarzabal struck an 86th-minute winner after Chelsea’s Cole Palmer had cancelled out a fine opener from Nico Williams. It meant Spain lifted the trophy for a record fourth time, while England have now lost the final twice in a row after their defeat to Italy three years ago.
Although Southgate has drastically changed the mood and landscape around the England national team since taking over from Sam Allardyce in 2016, there has been talk that he could resign after failing to get over the line and win the European Championship. It’s understood the FA would want to keep Southgate, but his contract is set to expire in December and therefore would need to offer him a new deal.
Southgate is expected to take his time and decide his future in due course, however, following the tournament. If he does decide to leave, Sky Sports have reported that the FA have lined up a number of possible replacements. It’s claimed that ex-Chelsea boss Pochettino is on their shortlist. The Argentine left his role by mutual consent at Stamford Bridge back in May after guiding the Blues to a sixth-place finish.
Graham Potter, another former Chelsea head coach, is among the others mentioned. Potter has been out of work since he was sacked at the Blues in April 2023 and had been linked with becoming the new Leicester boss earlier this summer. Meanwhile, Newcastle’s Eddie Howe and England Under 21s boss Lee Carsley are also on the list.
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Speaking on Sunday, Southgate admitted he is yet to make a decision on his future. He said: “Now is not the time for me to speak about that. I need to talk to the right people and give myself a bit of time. To get to another final… it was a privilege to have the opportunity. But to come up short is hard at the moment.”
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