After a second consecutive European Championship final defeat, Gareth Southgate has decided to step down as England manager.
The Three Lions lost 2-1 to Spain in Berlin last Sunday thanks to a late winner from Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal, which came soon after Cole Palmer had brilliantly cancelled out Nico Williams’ opener.
So, it is time for England to enter a new era and given the crop of talent at the nation’s disposal, the next manager will be expected to win either the 2026 World Cup or Euro 2028.
Following the news of Southgate’s resignation, we caught up with our ambassador Ray Parlour to get his thoughts on the situation and ask who he would like to be the new Three Lions boss.
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Who Should Be the Next England Manager?
“There is not a standout candidate for me. Graham Potter is out of work but he is not the man for me right now. Jurgen Klopp is also out of work but it seems like the Germany job is the one he is hoping for.
“So Eddie Howe, for me, fits the mould of a future England manager, as I want them to be English. He is a great coach and he has shown that in the Premier League with Newcastle, managing some very good players and earning their respect. Eddie also talks well and engages well with the media.
“But although I want the next England manager to be English, if a foreign manager comes in and England win the next World Cup or Euros, everyone will be happy. Mauricio Pochettino is also available and will be considered, but he has not really won anything in his career so far.”
Is Southgate England’s Greatest Manager?
“You have to say Sir Alf Ramsey is England’s best manager, simply because of the 1966 World Cup win. His charisma and how he managed the team to glory makes him the top choice for me.
“I would also put Terry Venables up there for sure, for the way England played at Euro 1996. But Southgate has to be behind Sir Alf due to his record at major tournaments.
“Two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final, that is better than any previous England manager, so he will go down as one of the best.”
What Are Southgate’s Best Moments As England Manager?
“One of the best moments has to be from Euro 2020, when Southgate guided England to a knockout win over Germany. That was such a big statement made by Southgate and his team, given it was Germany and the fact we beat a good side.
“Looking at Euro 2024, the 2-1 victory over the Netherlands was an excellent moment, particularly the way the team scored the winner in the last minute, with both subs combining to secure a famous win to qualify for a second Euros final.
“Outside of those two moments, there was the impressive World Cup quarter-final win over Sweden in 2018. That 2-0 win was pretty convincing and despite being a high-pressure World Cup quarter-final, it was actually a relatively comfortable way to qualify for the semi-finals.
“The final moment under Southgate has to the penalty shootout win in 2018 over Colombia. With so many past shootout defeats in the World Cup, that moment really stands out.”
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