Gareth Southgate: 5 contenders to replace departing England boss

England are on the hunt for a new manager after the departure of Gareth Southgate. 

The 53-year-old announced on Tuesday that he is stepping down as Three Lions manager following their defeat against Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday.

That result mean England became the first team in history to lose consecutive European Championship finals, but Southgate departs the role with an impressive record in charge of the national side.

Since taking charge in 2016, the former Middlesbrough boss has guided England to two finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final at four major tournaments.

Talk will quickly turn to who Southgate’s successor will be. Here, we take a look at five leading candidates to take charge of The Three Lions.

Graham Potter 

49-year-old Potter made a name for himself at Swedish side Ostersunds, most notably when masterminding a win over Arsenal in the Europa League in 2018. He took charge of Swansea City when departing Sweden, before being appointed as head coach of Brighton and Hove Albion in 2019, marking his first venture into Premier League management. Potter enjoyed huge success with the Seagulls, achieving record points and goals tallies for the club during his tenure. A less successful spell at Chelsea followed, which ended in April 2023 with Potter boasting the unwanted record of lowest points-per-game average of any manager in the club’s history. The Englishman has been out of work since, but is the early favourite to succeed Southgate.

Potter has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023

Eddie Howe  

Howe has been regarded for some time as arguably the best English manager currently working at the top level, and has also been touted as Southgate’s most likely successor in the past. That was largely before he took charge of Newcastle United, though. Howe guided the Magpies to Champions League qualification in his first season in charge of the North East giants, but endured a rather underwhelming campaign last term. He has previously impressed during two spells with Bournemouth, totalling almost 12 years.

Howe has been heavily linked with the England job in the past

Lee Carsley

It remains to be seen what plan the FA have in place to select Southgate’s successor, but one option could be to follow the same path that saw him given the job in the first place. Like Southgate, Carsley has enjoyed success as manager of the England Under-21s. Carsley guided his side to victory at the Under-21 European Championships last year, and the ex-Republic of Ireland international has also previously managed Manchester City Under-18s.

Carsley is currently in charge of England Under-21s

Mauricio Pochettino

Argentine Pochettino was appointed as Chelsea manager just over a year ago, but the former Tottenham Hotspur boss once again finds himself out of work after just one season in charge at Stamford Bridge. He boasts a largely impressive record throughout his managerial career, but has only won trophies during his time with Paris Saint-Germain, and did miss out on the top flight title during his first season in charge in Paris.

Pochettino has managed three teams in England; Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea

Jurgen Klopp

Former Liverpool boss Klopp may perhaps seem an unlikely appointment, but the German could be a very good fit for this England side. Having departed the Reds at the end of last season after nine years in charge, Klopp is likely to take a break from football, but the lure of international management could tempt him. During his time on Merseyside, the 57-year-old won eight trophies including the Premier League and Champions League.

Klopp is currently on a career break