Pep Guardiola has been approached by the FA about being appointed as the next England boss, with the trophy-laden Manchester City manager expected to make a decision on his next steps in the coming weeks.
The likelihood of interim Lee Carsley remaining in the job is waning by the day following a humiliating defeat to Greece and increasingly confusing comments made by the coach about his suitability for the role.
Not even Carsley himself seems to want the job, with the boss saying he would ‘hopefully…be going back to the [under]-21s’.
He then created further confusion following another win over lowly Finland, claiming the Three Lions role was for ‘a world class coach who’s won trophies’ before later stressing that this did not rule him out.
With rumours swirling as to who will be the next occupant of the England hotseat, it seems the FA are setting their sights high, having inquired into Guardiola at the start of this season, The Times reports.
Pep Guardiola has been ‘contacted about being appointed as the next Three Lions boss’
The likelihood of interim Lee Carsley remaining in the job is waning by the day
The Three Lions suffered a humiliating defeat to Greece at Wembley on Thursday evening
The contact is believed to be informal but the Spaniard, who has won a glut of trophies at City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, is the preferred option for the role.
FA chiefs have not decided yet who will be the permanent successor to Gareth Southgate, who left in the summer following a heartbreaking loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, and other candidates are in the conversation.
Unsurprisingly City, who have won six Premier League titles during the 53-year-old’s reign, are keen to hang on to their man but have a fight on their hands, with Guardiola’s contract expiring in June.
On the Spaniard’s part, he is biding his time, having not yet replied to the FA and remaining very coy about his future whenever asked.
Asked whether he has decided to be the next England manager, Guardiola told Italian TV show Che Tempo Che Fa: ‘It’s not true. I’m Manchester City manager.’
However, he refused to rule anything out as he said: ‘I’ve not decided anything, everything can happen. So I don’t know’.
Guardiola commented further on his future at City amid continued uncertainty as he said: ‘I still need to reflect and decide what I want to do’.
Pundit Roy Keane has suggested the Spaniard is the ‘best guy’ and worth waiting until the end of his 2025 contract for, and few Three Lions fans would disagree.
Vangelis Pavlidis netted twice for Greece with the second goal coming deep in stoppage time
Lee Carsley’s England side were humbled at Wembley as they were beaten 2-1 by Greece
England returned to winning ways in the Nations League after beating Finland in Helsinki
Speaking on ITV, Keane said: ‘Go after Pep [Guardiola], go for the best. Pep’s contract is up the summer.
‘The FA have to go for the best guy, I don’t know if finances will play a part in it.
‘If Lee (Carsley) obviously rules himself, and he’s not interested, and that seems to be the noises coming out, then the FA better get busy and get the right man.’
It’s all a far cry from Carsley’s blistering start to his reign as interim as two 2-0 wins in the Nations League last month seemed to place the Three Lions on the even keel they desired so dearly after the departure of Southgate in the summer.
Jack Grealish was dictating play behind the striker, Anthony Gordon was sprinting down the wing and Trent Alexander-Arnold was enjoying a new lease of life at his favoured right-back position.
October brought a Kane ankle injury and some selection errors.
The 2-1 defeat at the hands of 48th-ranked Greece saw Jude Bellingham as a false nine in a 4-2-1-3 system with Cole Palmer in a deep midfield role. Neither did anything to reassure fans, or the FA, that the interim boss was the right custodian for these prodigious talents long-term.
But who is? Guardiola’s credentials are unquestionable and if the City manager is happy to venture into international coaching, then he would be an overwhelmingly popular choice among success-starved England fans.
One of football’s most famous faces, the boss has followed a successful playing career with a managerial spell that matches any in the history of the game.
Starting out at Barcelona, where he turned out as a defensive midfielder on 384 occasions, Guardiola scooped up three La Ligas and two Champions League trophies at the helm of one of the most dominant sides in recent years.
It’s all a far cry from Carsley’s blistering start to his reign as interim featuring two 2-0 wins
Guardiola’s credentials are unquestionable and if the City manager is happy to venture into international coaching, then he would be an overwhelmingly popular choice
Under Guardiola, City have gone on an unprecedented run of dominance, winning six league titles
The honours did not dry up when he headed to Bayern Munich, either, with the manager winning three consecutive Bundesligas before moving to Manchester.
After almost ten years of Sheikh Mansour ownership, City were showing signs of success but remained inconsistent.
Under Guardiola, they have gone on an unprecedented run of dominance, winning six league titles, two FA Cups and a long-awaited Champions League.
Another seasoned trophy-winner who remains an option for the England hotseat is Thomas Tuchel.
Carsley does not get to choose his successor or even influence the criteria on which they will be judged, but his suggestion that the next boss should be ‘world class’ hit on something.
Tuchel won consecutive league titles with Paris Saint-Germain before inspiring a mediocre Chelsea side to Champions League glory in 2021. He then lifted a Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.
England have not appointed a manager of the German’s pedigree since Fabio Capello and his impressive CV could win over fans fed up with bosses they perceive as being second-rate.
The 51-year-old has been out of work since leaving the German giants at the end of last season and in fact, Bild say the coach is currently in talks to take the role and he has previously made it clear he is open to international management.
Thomas Tuchel has reportedly been in negotiations to become the next manager of England
Tuchel won consecutive league titles with Paris Saint-Germain before inspiring a mediocre Chelsea side to Champions League glory in 2021
The FA are also believed to be considering English options, including long-time target Eddie Howe
Speaking in 2022, he said: ‘Yeah, why not? I would, I would. I did not give too much thought to it until now.
‘But I would consider if it is the right team and if it has the potential to win trophies like the World Cup and the Euros.’
Despite being linked to the job, Jurgen Klopp was not approached following his departure from Liverpool as FA chiefs understood he wanted a long break from full-time management.
The FA are also believed to be considering English options, including long-time target Eddie Howe.
His position as Newcastle manager seems more secure than over the summer and he recently claimed he had no eyes on the England job despite the long-term interest.
