Garetth Southgate and his England squad landed in Germany on Monday ahead of Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)
England remain hopeful they can persuade Gareth Southgate to remain as manager after Euro 2024 but are already starting to consider alternative options.
The Three Lions landed in Germany on Monday ahead of their European Championship campaign which starts in earnest this weekend against Serbia.
Despite patchy form leading into the tournament, which culminated in last Friday’s dismal Wembley defeat against Iceland, England are still considered among the favourites to go all the way.
England’s recent record at major tournaments does give some cause for optimism but having already had three bites at the cherry, the Football Association is understood to fear Southgate could call time on his tenure should he return emptyhanded this time around.
Southgate has put all talk surrounding his next move on hold amid speculation he has been identified as Manchester United’s preferred candidate to take over from Erik ten Hag.
United are conducting a full and thorough end of season review but are still to make a decision and confirm that the Dutchman will be granted a third season in the Old Trafford hot seat.
With the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel having been discounted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, it increasingly looks as though the choice for the INEOS chief boils down to retaining Ten Hag, or patiently biding his time for Southgate.
That scenario would leave just about everyone involved in an increasingly complicated situation in a state of limbo, including England.
Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino are both potential candidates to take over from Gareth Southgate (Picture: Getty)
What Gareth Southgate has said about his future
‘I’m the England manager, I have got one job basically. To try and deliver a European Championship. Clearly before that, we have two important games this week,’ Southgate said.
‘Secondly, Manchester United have a manager and I think it is completely disrespectful there is any speculation over a manager’s place.’
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The FA, according to the Daily Telegraph, are yet to draw up an official shortlist but both Tuchel and Pochettino, ironically, are among the candidates they would consider should Southgate step down later this summer.
Pochettino is already understood to be keen on the idea of managing the England national team, but it remains to be seen whether or not the FA would be prepared to hire a foreign manager for the first time since Fabio Capello’s reign ended in unsavoury fashion.
Both Tuchel and Pochettino are currently out of work following their high-profile departures from Chelsea and Bayern Munich respectively, but the FA do have two English candidates in mind.
Pochettino’s predecessor at Chelsea, Graham Potter, is still highly regarded, and recently turned down the chance to manage Ajax having been involved in advanced negotiations at one point.
Eddie Howe also has his admirers but he appears to remain committed to Newcastle who are likely to continue on anupward trajectory under their Saudi Arabian owners.