England decide on interim manager to replace Gareth Southgate for next two fixtures

Gareth Southgate left his role as England manager after the Euros

Gareth Southgate left his role as England manager after the Euros

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 07/08/2024

- 13:28

Updated: 08/08/2024

- 08:27

Gareth Southgate left his role as England manager after losing the Euros 2024 final to Spain.

England bosses are reportedly set to name Lee Carsley as interim manager for Nations League fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month.

Gareth Southgate resigned as England manager just 48 hours after losing the Euros 2024 final to Spain last month.


There was a growing expectation that the Euros in Germany were always going to be Southgate's final tournament in charge of the Three Lions, giving the FA time to work on a succession plan.

But no replacement has been named for Southgate nearly a month after he left his role.

There's just a few weeks until England's squad for Nations League fixtures against Republic of Ireland and Finland is expected to be announced on August 29.

Gareth Southgate left his role as England manager after the Euros

Gareth Southgate left his role as England manager after the Euros

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The likes of Eddie Howe and Graham Potter have been strongly linked with taking over as the next England boss.

However, England Under-21 head coach Carsley is also said to be in the mix and it's now been reported that he will take charge of the matches next month on an interim basis.

Carsley would follow in the same footsteps as Southgate by stepping up from manager of the Under-21 side to the senior squad.

The former Ireland international led the England youth side to glory in the Under-21s European Championships last year.

Liverpool star Harvey Elliott was a part of that squad and has fully endorsed the 50-year-old to take on the role.

He said recently: "Lee is an unbelievable manager and an unbelievable guy. He is ready to step up. There have been a lot of big clubs sniffing around him and that is credit to himself and his coaching.

"Whenever I step on the pitch for England I just have freedom to enjoy my football. I feel like he is ready. They are conversations for them (at the FA)."

England icon Stuart Pearce also feels that Carsley is the natural successor to Southgate.

"This is where I'm thinking it's going," Pearce said last month.

"They need a manager for September. Who is the ideal man?

"Lee Carsley won the Under-21 tournament - and I know how difficult it is to do that - so his CV is looking good.

"He knows the FA, he knows the running of it, he's been there long enough.

"He will be ideally suited to put into place and say take the team until Christmas. 'You're doing the Nations League games,' run that until Christmas.

"The FA have got a chance then to have a look at him in post. How is he viewed by the public? How is he viewed by the players? All of those types of things and make a decision from there.

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Gareth Southgate led England to back-to-back Euros finals

Gareth Southgate led England to back-to-back Euros finals

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"You might want to go elsewhere at that stage. But if it works and you've got cover at Under-21 level, then step him up at this stage.

"Because there was no succession plan when Gareth took over.

"He was working with the 21s but I don't think there was a real mentality within the FA that said: 'Right, you're going to take over from Roy.'

"He just fell into place and look at how successful that's been."

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