Manchester United legend Gary Neville has insisted that there are already two clear frontrunners to replace Gareth Southgate as the next England manager.
Gareth Southgate took charge of England in 2016 after Sam Allardyce stepped down from the role and led the Three Lions to four major international tournaments.
The 53-year-old was unable to end England’s long-running silverware drought and fell short of capturing the Three Lions’ first major honour since the 1966 World Cup.
England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia under Southgate before the Three Lions finished as runners-up at Euro 2020.
England fell short to France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, but the Three Lions reached the final of Euro 2024 this summer.
However, the Three Lions’ second consecutive European Championship final ended in defeat, with Spain picking up a 2-1 win over England on Sunday evening.
Neville picks two favourites for England
Gareth Southgate on Tuesday confirmed that he would step down as England manager after failing to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy at this summer’s Euros.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville claimed that there are “obvious contenders” to replace former England boss Southgate in the Three Lions dugout.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has been heavily tipped as a successor to Southgate after his impressive work at St James’ Park.
Graham Potter, who was sacked from Chelsea in 2023 after an ill-fated spell, has also emerged as another potential candidate to be the next England manager.
Neville added that his other major prediction is that the FA will stick with an English manager rather than opting for an international manager going forward.
“There is no science in terms of what works and there are obvious contenders,” he said.
“Graham Potter and Eddie Howe will get mentioned and I think it will definitely be an English manager.
“Moving to St George’s Park was to promote and develop English coaches. To take that away from an English manager and give [it] to an international manager would be wrong.”
Neville on Southgate exit and the future
Neville has admitted that he expects Southgate, who was previously linked with Manchester United, to remain in international management rather than switch to club football.
The United legend praised the work of former England teammate Southgate and boldly branded him as a “statesman-like leader.”
“I would like to think Gareth will stay in international management,” Neville said.
“His patience and understanding is second to none and it suits him. He is a statesman-like leader who represents countries really well.
“He is such a proud Englishman – he doesn’t look like a bulldog type who will fight for his country, like Terry Butcher and Stuart Pearce, but he is that type in a different shell.
“But I think he could take his learnings into another country. He could also stay with England and the FA in a higher role and develop English coaches.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/5m4UVoz