August 12 – England have delayed hiring a permanent coach to replace Gareth Southgate and will be led on an interim basis by Lee Carsley, currently in charge of the country’s under-21 team.
As a tenacious, tough-tackling midfielder in his playing days and then a highly-acclaimed youth coach, Lee Carsley had rarely been in the headlines before being named as England’s temporary manager on Friday.
All that is about to change for the 50-year-old, who will take charge of at least two Nations League games next month having won the Euros at under-21 level in 2023, ending England’s 39-year wait to do so.
Carsley, a former Irish international who won 39 caps and played at the 2002 World Cup, is aiming to follow the path taken by Southgate, who was unexpectantly thrust into the hot seat himself from his role as under-21 boss eight years ago.
Carsley already has a rapport with many of those who will hope to shine for England at the 2026 World Cup. Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon described him as the “best man-manager I’ve had so far” after his starring role in winning player of the tournament at the under-21 Euros last year.
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