England manager news: How Three Lions plan to get Pep Guardiola

Man City boss Pep Guardiola (Credit: Imago)

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England want Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to replace Gareth Southgate (Credit: Imago)

England manager news: How Three Lions plan to get Pep Guardiola

Seye Omidiora 08:40 - 19.07.2024

Following Gareth Southgate's resignation, the Football Association are reportedly keen to convince the Manchester City boss to join the national team.

England are said to be considering Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola to replace Gareth Southgate who departed after the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 campaign. 

Southgate’s England spell

The former defender took the job in 2016 and guided the national team to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 before reaching the quarter-final four years later in Qatar. 

Southgate followed England’s disastrous Euro 2016 tournament — where they exited in the round of 16 — with back-to-back runs to the final, only to lose to Italy and Spain. The 53-year-old left his position as head coach of the national team two days after the defeat to Spain in Berlin

Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate and his dejected England players after the defeat to Spain (Credit: Imago)

England’s plan to get Guardiola

According to The Independent, Guardiola is viewed as a possible long-term solution as his contract with the Cityzens expires in the summer of 2025. 

The report states that luring him away before next year may be unrealistic, making the FA open to an interim solution for a year in the hope of tempting the three-time Champions League-winning manager after his Man City contract ends. 

Pep Guardiola
England are keen on Pep Guardiola to replace Gareth Southgate (Photo Credit: Man City/X)

Current U21s boss Lee Carsley is the frontrunner for the interim role, and the former Everton midfielder could get the job permanently if he impresses and they are rebuffed by Guardiola. 

What comes next?

It remains to be seen if England’s ambitious move for Guardiola materialises, but they could consider other options if the Spaniard is not keen on the role. Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and current Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou have been linked to the role. 

England return to competitive action when their Nations League campaign begins against Ireland on September 7.