Lee Carsley has urged the Football Association (FA) to prioritize selecting the best candidate for the England manager role—regardless of their nationality. With Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola among the rumored favorites, Carsley believes the focus should be on finding the most qualified individual, whether they are English or not.
Carsley, currently serving as the interim manager for the England national team, has expressed his support for appointing a top-caliber manager, stating that nationality should not be a determining factor. Guardiola, whose £18 million-a-year contract with Manchester City is set to expire next summer, has emerged as a dream choice for many England fans. Despite speculation, Guardiola recently mentioned on Italian television that his future remains undecided.
Other potential candidates on the FA’s radar include former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, who led the club to Champions League glory, as well as Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and former Brighton manager Graham Potter. Although Carsley has been a candidate for the permanent role, it appears the FA may be exploring other options.
Carsley, who previously guided England’s U21 team to a European Championship victory, insists that it is crucial for the FA to select the best person for the job. “No, definitely not,” he replied when asked if the next manager should be English. “It’s important that the best candidate gets the job… We’d be putting ourselves in a corner if we didn’t open our minds a bit.”
The interim coach is expected to continue leading the national team for the upcoming Nations League matches while the FA makes its decision. Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl around Guardiola, who addressed rumors about his future, saying, “It’s not true, I haven’t decided yet. And it is not even true that I will be the next England coach.”
The FA’s decision on the next permanent England manager will likely impact Carsley’s future, as he may return to his previous role with the U21 team after a new manager is appointed. While some fans may express hesitation over appointing a non-English manager like Guardiola or Tuchel, England has had foreign coaches in the past, including Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
With big names like Guardiola and Tuchel being considered, it’s clear that the FA is aiming high to find the best fit for England’s footballing future.
