England suffer major next manager blow as dream candidate drops hint following Gareth Southgate resignation
England are currently looking for a new manager to replace Gareth Southgate
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England have suffered a blow when it comes to potentially appointing Pep Guardiola as their next manager following the recent departure of Gareth Southgate.
Southgate quit last week, with the 53-year-old choosing to pursue a new challenge following the Three Lions' failure to win Euro 2024.
Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Joachim Low have all been linked with the England job in the time since.
But Guardiola is also in the FA's sights, with the governing body full of admiration for the Spaniard and all the work he's done at Manchester City over the years.
England are currently looking for a new manager to replace Gareth Southgate
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There is a widespread feeling that Guardiola will leave the Etihad Stadium next summer, when his contract with City ends.
However, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has now hinted he could actually end up staying.
"If you love what you do, why should I stop?" he said.
"I like it – as much (now as when) they hired me – so let’s go."
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City would love to keep hold of Guardiola, who has taken the club to new heights ever since his appointment back in 2016.
And though he's Spanish, the FA have proven they're willing to go for foreign managers in the past.
They appointed Sven-Goran Eriksson all the way back in 2000, with the Swede proceeding to spend six years in the role before making way for Steve McLaren.
England then turned to Fabio Capello in 2008 after failing to qualify for the European Championships, though the combative Italian never lived up to the billing and left four years later under a cloud.
It is currently unclear who England will go for as they look to fill the void left behind by Southgate's departure.
Howe has many admirers within the FA but prising him away from Newcastle will be tough, with the Toon eager to keep hold of the 46-year-old.
Potter is on the market and available, though would be a risk given how he struggled to manage big players and big names during his disastrous stint at Chelsea.
Pochettino is free to take a job after his own departure from Stamford Bridge but may prefer to stay in club management.
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England would love to make Pep Guardiola their next manager following the recent departure of Gareth Southgate
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And though Tuchel and Low are believed to be interested, both currently look like big outsiders for the position.
Meanwhile, recently, Gary Lineker suggested Jurgen Klopp was a more 'realistic' candidate to take over from Southgate despite links to Guardiola intensifying.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the 63-year-old said: “I think he's [Southgate] been the right person to bring the nation together in terms of the football team.
"And, now, maybe it's time for someone else with a more modern, attacking style of football.
England hero Gareth Southgate quit his job as manager following his side's 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024
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"Do you go English? There’s only really Eddie Howe. Say Gareth does call it a day? I suspect he will, it must be so tough, demanding, so hard.
"If you go English, we mentioned, somebody maybe like [Frank] Lampard, who would get respect.
"But wouldn’t you go all out for Jurgen Klopp? Klopp's been out of a job. He'll have had a bit of a rest. Club managers are paid an awful lot of money, I can’t see the FA stumping up that sort of cash.
"I think we'd all love Pep [Guardiola] but do you realistically think we'd get him?”