England next manager: Sir Geoff Hurst endorses two candidates to replace Gareth Southgate
England next manager: The FA are currently looking for a replacement for Gareth Southgate following his recent decision to step down
PA
England legend Sir Geoff Hurst believes Eddie Howe and Graham Potter would be good picks to replace Gareth Southgate following the 53-year-old's recent departure.
Southgate recently stepped down as manager after the Three Lions lost 2-1 to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.
The FA are believed to have both Howe and Potter on their shortlist of potential replacements as they look to make the right appointment.
Prising Howe away from Newcastle will be tough, with the 46-year-old saying he's committed to the project at St James' Park.
England next manager: The FA are currently looking for a replacement for Gareth Southgate following his recent decision to step down
PA
As for Potter, the former Chelsea boss remains on the market following his departure from Stamford Bridge last year.
And Hurst, speaking to OLBG, has now endorsed the pair - while also saying the next manager from England has to be English, too.
“Firstly, I want to say that Gareth did a fantastic job," he said.
"I was asked prior to the tournament what could happen to him and I was of the opinion it wouldn’t have been England that will say your time is up to him, it will be him that decided when he was going to go and that’s what he did.
“Eight years with the job and all the stress, it takes its toll.
"Who would I want to replace him as England manager? I think the foreign managers we have had, overall, have been very disappointing. I want an English manager to replace Gareth.
“Most countries have managers who are of the same nationality of the country so I am firmly looking overall, I definitely think we should go for an English manager.
"Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, they did well at club level but for me, they certainly have to be English.”
England have gone down the foreign route twice before.
They brought in Sven-Goran Eriksson back in 2000, with the Swede steering the Three Lions to the quarter-finals of three major tournaments before walking away.
In 2008, the FA decided to go for former Real Madrid and Juventus boss Fabio Capello - who had won LaLiga with the Spanish side 12 months previously.
But his reign never lived up to expectations, with Capello leaving in 2012 after a row with the FA following the decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- England next manager: Jurgen Klopp doesn't hold back after Gareth Southgate exit - 'Must have missed that'
- Andy Murray called a 'cry baby' as former doubles partner suffers backlash online for Olympics message
- England next manager: Three foreign bosses keen on replacing Gareth Southgate as FA stance revealed
England next manager: Sir Geoff Hurst believes the ideal candidate has to be English
PA
England still haven't won a major tournament since the World Cup in 1966.
And Hurst is surprised by their lack of success given the top talent they've had over the years.
“Yes, I am surprised it has taken us this long, absolutely," he added.
"I am also disappointed when looking at the record of where we have been.
England next manager: Sir Geoff Hurst has endorsed Eddie Howe and Graham Potter
PA
"Two managers didn’t even qualify for the World Cup and that’s why Gareth Southgate’s achievement of getting us to two European finals and a World Cup semi final is gigantic and far, far above what we have ever done.
“I’ll never get involved in anything negative around Gareth’s performances.
"I mean, come on, look at where we are? Back-to-back Euro finals and then beaten by the best team in the tournament in EURO 2024.
“I don’t believe Jurgen Klopp, who has jacked it in at Liverpool after managing a league club, the stresses of all that comes with it, can then go to be an England manager and have to report to 50 or 60 million people. In any walk of life, you will get stick and abuse.”