FA Identifies Candidates to Succeed Southgate as England Coach

The Football Association (FA) has begun the search for a new England manager after Gareth Southgate resigned following England’s Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain. The FA is looking for a manager capable of leading the team to victory in a major tournament.

Southgate’s resignation on Tuesday concluded his eight-year tenure, prompting the FA to identify potential successors. Some of the favorites among bookmakers include Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, former Chelsea managers Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Thomas Tuchel, and Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou.

The FA has emphasized that the selection process is open to anyone who meets the specified criteria, which were detailed in a job profile released on Friday. The profile outlines the qualities required in the next England manager and states that several candidates have already been identified through succession planning.

Southgate was praised for improving England’s reputation but did not secure a major trophy, with defeats in consecutive European Championship finals and a semi-final loss in the 2018 World Cup. The FA’s priority is to find a manager who can finally win a major title with the talented squad.

The FA seeks a manager who can “lead and develop the England senior men’s team to win a major tournament and consistently rank as one of the top teams in the world.” Additionally, the ideal candidate should provide “inspiring leadership” to the FA’s technical team and build strong relationships with clubs employing English-qualified players.

The requirements for the role include holding a UEFA Pro Licence, having “significant experience” in English football, and a “strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions.”

Acknowledging the challenges faced by Southgate, the FA emphasizes the need for an “exceptional leader,” “highly resilient” and “comfortable in a high-profile role with intense public scrutiny.” Promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, the FA encourages applications from all qualified candidates.

Among those linked to the role is England Women’s coach Sarina Wiegman, who led the team to victory in the Women’s European Championship in 2022. The job profile includes an email address for interested applicants, likely resulting in numerous applications from fans as well as genuine candidates.

The FA has set August 2 as the deadline for applications, with England’s next match scheduled against the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League on September 7.