Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and former Chelsea bosses Graham Potter & Mauricio Pochettino are the frontrunners to replace Gareth Southgate. The news was reported shortly by ESPN citing sources after Southgate stepped down as England men’s football team head coach .
Howe led Newcastle to Champions League after 20 years post finishing inside top-four in 2023/23 Premier League season while Potter has been on Football Association (FA) radar since 2022, reported ESPN.
Southgate ended his eight-year stint with England national team after losing the Euro 2024 Final on July 15 against Spain. This was England’s second consecutive Euro Final loss. The Three Lions had also lost to Italy on penalties in 2020 Euro Final at home in 2020 edition.
Southgate was criticised for England’s ‘boring and slow’ game tactics in Euro 2024 and the team was even booed after 0-0 draw against Slovenia in the group stage.
The England manager, despite his so called ‘boring’ style of play, managed to take the team into two consecutive Euro finals with the latest one being the first for England on foreign soil.
Southgate’s outgoing statement read: “As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.
“But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager.”
With Southgate’s departure, England are keen to have a home grown coach with U21 boss Lee Carsley being another option – just like Southgate was in 2016.
FA technical director John McDermott, who would be a key figure in succession discussion, is likely to support Argentine Pochettino, having worked with him five and a half years at Tottenham.
Apart from Pochettino, another foreign contender who could be a potential candidate to replace Southgate is Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel has long record of successful coaching stints with some big names like Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund along with Champions League success with Chelsea.
