England FA have identified their long term manager in Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola but faces daunting task in acquiring the services of the Spanish tactician as the 115 charges against his club rages on.
Following the recently concluded Euro 2024 where England lost to Spain, head coach Gareth Southgate resigned after losing back to back finals and since then, youth coach in Lee Carsley has been in charge of the NT affairs on interim basis.
But that wouldn’t keep on for long as they want to make a permanent managerial appointment as the search for silverware on the international scene remains a top priority.
In September, the FA initiated private inquiries about potential external candidates to fill the England manager position as reported by Sportsmail, with Pep Guardiola among those approached prior to the start of the season.
Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City expires in the summer, and it seems unlikely that he would leave before then. This could present challenges for the FA, as there are likely to be six England fixtures before Guardiola’s contract ends. However, Paul Carsley is already committed to managing the team for the November matches against Greece and Ireland.
Despite these potential challenges, there is a belief among senior FA officials that waiting for Guardiola would be worthwhile.
Carsley’s inconsistent public statements regarding his desire for the permanent position have created further uncertainty within the FA about his suitability as Southgate’s long-term successor. While the FA has maintained an open approach to their next appointment and considered Carsley a viable candidate, recent public comments have raised doubts about his readiness for the top job.
England would be unable to match Guardiola’s current £20 million salary at Manchester City, which could present a significant obstacle. However, the role of England head coach is one of the highest-paying international coaching positions globally.