There are some huge names being linked with football's 'impossible job', but who stands out as the best fit for the Three Lions?
Most supporters still feel the familiar desolation that followed England's Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. Gareth Southgate resigned in the aftermath of that crushing disappointment, but three months have passed since then, and the FA has yet to make a decision on his permanent successor.
Lee Carsley was being considered as a leading candidate after an impressive start to his interim reign. England played on the front foot in comfortable wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland as the former U21s boss ditched the overly cautious blueprint that made Southgate such a divisive figure.
But it was a false dawn. Carsley was brought crashing back down to earth on Thursday as he watched Greece pick up a deserved win over his dismal England side at Wembley. Carsley went for an ultra-attacking line-up, with Jude Bellingham deployed as a false nine in the absence of Harry Kane, and it completely backfired as England were left exposed on the counter.
The Three Lions bounced back with a 3-1 away win against Finland, but it was another unconvincing performance that raised more questions over Carsley's credentials. "I keep saying the same thing. My remit was six games and I'm happy with that," he said after the game. "This job deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies and I am still on the path to that."
Carsley didn't completely rule himself out of the running, but it seems like his time in the dugout will be short-lived. The question is: who is better suited to the job? GOAL has ranked the nine other main contenders, with only a select few falling into the world-class bracket…
(C)GettyImages9Steven Gerrard
Gerrard is the fourth-most capped player in England's entire history, and probably the most complete midfielder to ever pull on the famous white shirt. Respect would be guaranteed based on reputation alone, and the major tournament experience Gerrard can pass on is potentially invaluable.
But the jury is very much out on whether he has what it takes to be an elite coach. Aside from a Scottish Premiership title success at Rangers, Gerrard's first six years in management have been a huge disappointment. The Liverpool legend flopped spectacularly at Aston Villa and his stock has only continued to plummet since his move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq.
In truth, it's worrying that Gerrard has been linked with the England post at all. He's not even close to being ready, and would be wise to head back to the club scene in Europe if he wants to change that.
AdvertisementGetty Images8Jose Mourinho
Mourinho recently claimed that he has rejected the England job twice, back when he was revered as one of the world's finest managers. The Portuguese also insisted he will only consider international management when he's "old and tired", having embarked on a new challenge with Fenerbahce in the summer, but he may be forced to alter that stance in the near future.
None of the top clubs are attracted to Mourinho anymore. His insistence on using a siege mentality to motivate his squad is more exhausting than inspiring these days, and his tactics looked hopelessly outdated at Manchester United, Tottenham and Roma.
But that doesn't mean the former Chelsea and Real Madrid mastermind is finished yet. Mourinho's skills are actually a much better fit for the international stage; he knows exactly what it takes to win tournaments and how to get his players up for one-off games. Achieving success with England would repair his damaged reputation, too, though it's unlikely the FA will look at him seriously again until he stops courting controversy on the touchline.
Getty7Frank Lampard
Just like Gerrard, Lampard is a once great footballer who has found the transition into management far more more difficult than he would ever have imagined. He did okay in his first role at Derby, but jumped into the Chelsea hot seat too soon and was ill-equipped to deal with the chaos behind the scenes at Everton.
After being sacked by both of those clubs, Lampard landed on his feet with a return to Stamford Bridge as caretaker manager, but also blew that opportunity as Chelsea slumped to a bottom half finish in 2022-23. Lampard has been out of work since, and it remains to be seen if he still has the same hunger to succeed as a coach.
The outlook is not all bad for Lampard, though. He's a brilliant communicator and has a strong record with the development of younger players, notably bringing through Mason Mount, Reece James and Tammy Abraham at Chelsea. England would be taking a major risk if they were to turn to Lampard, but it would make more sense than opting for Gerrard, and he could surprise everyone.
(C)GettyImages6Kieran McKenna
McKenna has come a long way since taking the brave decision to leave Manchester United's coaching staff and head out on his own. He took the reins at Ipswich in 2021 and has since guided the Tractor Boys from League One to the Premier League, earning plenty of admirers for his innovative style of play in the process.
United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Brighton all reportedly had an eye on making McKenna their new head coach in the summer, but he eventually decided to pen a new four-year deal at Portman Road. The 38-year-old might be rueing that call privately, with Ipswich already staring down the barrel of relegation after a winless start to life back in the top-flight, but according to , he is still on England's shortlist to replace Carsley.
FA technical director John McDermott is said to be a big fan of McKenna, having previously worked with the former Northern Ireland international when he was a youth coach at Tottenham, and England could certainly do a lot worse. McKenna is a progressive manager capable of creating a trust-based dressing room environment, and would also give the team a clear identity – which was lacking under Southgate.