Lee Carsley is poised to step in as the interim manager of the England men’s senior team for their upcoming Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month. Carsley, who led the England Under-21s to a historic victory in the European Championship in 2023, takes over following Gareth Southgate’s resignation.
Southgate departed from his role as England manager two days after the team’s defeat by Spain in the 2024 European Championship final. The transition from managing the Under-21s to the senior team is a familiar path, with predecessors such as Howard Wilkinson, Stuart Pearce, and Southgate himself all having made similar moves.
Southgate’s tenure included notable successes, with the team reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, the World Cup quarter-finals in 2022, and the Euro 2021 and 2024 finals. His departure has led the Football Association (FA) to initiate a search for a permanent replacement, with a job advert recently posted on their website.
While the FA has yet to comment on the ongoing search, they have indicated that an “interim solution” was in place, hence Carsley’s appointment. The 50-year-old former Premier League midfielder, known for his stints with Derby County and Everton, has also managed Coventry, Brentford, and Birmingham on a caretaker basis before joining the England setup in 2020.
Carsley’s appointment as interim manager continues the tradition of Under-21 managers stepping up to lead the senior team, with the FA looking to navigate the transitional period effectively while searching for a long-term successor.
Source: BBC
