Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel are expected to step down in the Premier League if Gareth Southgate resigns as England manager after a second consecutive defeat in the European Cup final at the top of the overall shortlist. Southgate has yet to make a final decision and the FA hope to persuade him to stay and lead the team to the 2026 World Cup, but it would not be surprising if he chooses to leave after eight years in the job.
The 53-year-old, whose contract expires in December, said before England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain on Sunday that he needed days rather than weeks to make a decision.
Southgate said he was “shocked” after the defeat to Spain, having had to face a flood of criticism from fans and pundits during the European Championships. Although he retains the support of England and the FA, he can appear tired at times and may decide he needs a new challenge.
It is understood there will be no lack of interest even if vacancies arise. Howe, who has impressed Newcastle since joining three years ago, is the early front-runner, with Potter and Tuchel willing to take over.
Other candidates could include former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley and former England internationals Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. Any recruitment process will be overseen by the FA’s technical director John McDermott and chief executive Mark Bullingham.
A potential complication in any pursuit of Howe, who guided Newcastle into the Champions League last season, is whether the FA can afford him. Southgate’s annual salary is thought to be around £5 million, which is at the lower end of Premier League head coach salaries. The FA will need to convince Howe to leave Newcastle, where the former Bournemouth boss has the support of the board and fans.
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In some quarters, England’s desire to appoint a home-grown manager could bolster Potter’s case. The former Brighton boss has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023 and was recently overlooked for the Leicester City job. Potter has been unsure about playing multiple roles but there is a feeling he has been waiting to see how the situation in England develops.
Carsley is a former Republic of Ireland manager who is currently within the FA system and led the Under-21s to glory at last year’s European Championship, beating Spain in the final. Gerrard and Lampard still have a lot to prove after a poor start to their managerial careers.
England, which has not won a trophy in men’s football for 58 years, has not ruled out appointing a foreign manager for the first time since Fabio Capello.
Former Chelsea boss Tuchel is unemployed after leaving Bayern Munich. Tuchel is a tactical expert who enjoys working and living in England. The same goes for Pochettino, who left Chelsea in May. However, the Argentinian needs to consider how his compatriot will accept working for England.
There have also been calls for England to move closer to Jurgen Klopp, but the chances of the former Liverpool boss wanting to take over appear slim.
