England could be about to shoot themselves in the foot with next manager search after Gareth Southgate exit
England are currently on the lookout for their next manager following the recent departure of Gareth Southgate
PA
England, as things stand, are on the hunt for a new manager to replace Gareth Southgate.
Southgate left the Three Lions last Tuesday, less than two days after his side had been outclassed and outplayed by Spain in the final of Euro 2024.
The FA immediately confirmed that the search for a replacement would commence immediately. A week on, and there's nothing yet to report.
What is interesting, however, is whispers that England don't want to pay their next manager any more than Southgate. The former Middlesbrough boss was on an annual wage of £4.5million before his departure and the FA are ready to draw the line. Managing the country should be an honour, after all.
England are currently on the lookout for their next manager following the recent departure of Gareth Southgate
PA
The problem is, however, that England could be about to shoot themselves in the foot.
Football managers, like players, feel they're entitled to the big bucks. They have egos, like us all, and accepting a pay cut is something that doesn't happen very often.
The best bosses in world football are paid well. When it comes to the candidates on England's shortlist, that's certainly true.
Take Eddie Howe. The 46-year-old is the FA's top choice to replace Southgate, having worked wonders at Bournemouth and Newcastle throughout his career.
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Newcastle have held emergency talks with Howe in order to keep hold of their manager after he indicated he'd be open to leaving St James' Park, especially if his power is reduced over on Tyneside.
Howe is paid a salary of around £6million. If he were to leave, he'd lose £1.5m annually as a result. Throw in the fact that he's yet to win a big trophy at club level, it's tricky to see him jumping ship at the current moment in time.
Graham Potter is believed to be England's second preferred candidate. Though his time at Chelsea didn't work out, he's got plenty of credit in the bank following spells with Swansea and Brighton.
But while he's available now, he was paid a whooping £13m during his spell at Stamford Bridge. Whether he'd accept such a big pay cut is unclear, especially given interest from teams at club level.
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In a dream world, the FA would bring in one of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
Guardiola is widely expected to leave Manchester City next season and has hinted in the past that he'd be interested in an international gig.
But given he pockets £19.7m every 12 months, it's hard to see Guardiola accepting such a drastic pay cut. The FA could, admittedly, bend their own rules though that's something they're extremely reluctant to do at this stage.
As for Klopp, the German is on the market following his recent departure from Liverpool. Given his nationality and the fact he was paid £15million-per-year towards the end of his time at Anfield, the dream of bringing him in looks exactly that.
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The list goes on.
Thomas Tuchel, who is reportedly interested in the England job, was paid £10.5m annually before leaving Bayern Munich. He is a club manager, with no experience of the international scene. Therefore, the FA would be unlikely to go that high - even if they are impressed by his winning mentality.
England would likely have to break the bank to bring in either Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp as Gareth Southgate's replacement
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And Mauricio Pochettino is in the same boat. Paid £10.4m by Chelsea prior to his departure earlier this summer, he'd likely be too expensive to appoint - unless he accepts a big pay cut.
All of the managers above are brilliant in their own right, however. And if the FA refuse to buckle, they could end up missing out on a man capable of ending so many years of hurt.