What next for England? Balance to be struck between evolving from Southgate while maintaining positive spirit he created, writes Miguel Delaney
The English FA had a plan in place for Gareth Southgate’s departure months before Euro 2024, since it was widely expected, and there is a view in football that managers like Graham Potter have turned down other jobs in anticipation. But the reality of making decisions can be very different from the build-up.
The FA are now in that classic bind that comes with these situations where you’re replacing a figure so associated with a high-profile job. There’s what they can do, what they want to do and what they should do. Those aren’t necessarily all the same thing.
There is one priority that feels progressive but may prompt greater debate. The FA want a manager who has an appreciation for the culture of the English national team rather than just being English. Understanding the role is more important than nationality or even CV.
There is, of course, a strong argument that the coach of major national teams should be from those countries, since it is in keeping with the spirit of the international game, while also promoting that country’s football culture. It is probably telling that Greece are the only national team to have won a World Cup or European Championships with a foreign manager–German Otto Rehhagel in 2004.
That isn’t an argument for England to have right now, though, as the wider game evolves. Those aren’t the rules and, if you are serious about victory, there is probably no point in limiting yourself.
It is why the priority of appreciating the English team’s culture is so important and nuanced. That condition allows a more expansive scope but also limits the temptation for a “big name” and a modern equivalent of Fabio Capello. The Italian had the standing within football for the job but not the understanding.
It points to what England’s greatest priority should be. That is someone who can evolve Southgate’s approach to something more expansive, so as to amplify the quality of the players but also maintain the chemistry that ensures such an approach can be properly applied. England don’t want to lose something crucial in pursuit of victory.
This was something that was always overlooked with Southgate, in many of the criticisms of his tactics. He made up for a lot of shortcomings by completing everything else around the camp. The squad felt like a club group, which fostered a good spirit and a resolve – valuable traits at international level.
By contrast, Capello illustrated that it’s not much worth having the tactics and stature if the players aren’t in the right frame of mind to play to their best for you. Southgate’s approach went much further. It now needs those final details, but from someone who fits.
Such conditions also point to something that is much more important than it ever was in such roles, which is the difference between the club game and international game.
That is no longer just a question of limited time spent with groups and the contrasting intensity of summer tournaments. It is now evolving into almost a different branch of football tactics.
The club game is so integrated and concentrated that it is going down routes that countries simply can’t. The international game is consequently much less homogenised and involves many more hybrid systems. That was initially out of necessity but has developed into real intent.
The clearest example are the world champions Argentina. They have developed a middle ground between the “tournament ball” of Southgate and Didier Deschamps, and some of the football principles of “ideology” teams like Spain. This is most evident in pressing approaches.
England must appoint someone who gets this, especially as this brilliant generation of talent haven’t quite grown up with every team playing one idea as the Spanish do. It is one of a few reasons why Eddie Howe is considered a strong candidate, to go with the fact there would at least be a preference for someone English.
The current Newcastle United manager has displayed that sort of tactical nuance, especially in adding Diego Simeone’s approach to his previously expansive style.
The spotlight that has come from agreeing to be a figurehead for a sportswashing project might also offer some preparation for the different scrutiny that comes with England, even if there were criticisms for how he handled early questions.
This is experience the other main English candidate, Potter, doesn’t have. Potter would probably complete the team tactical ly but how well would he manage everything else around it? He struggled under the glare of Chelsea. And while many might insist the modern Chelsea is a basketcase, well, look at the circus around England.
Some who know Mauricio Pochettino believe he could get too defensive in that situation, which may mean he is not best suited. His Argentinian nationality may also bring a whole other scale of discussion given the history of the two countries. At the same time, Pochettino has exactly the type of understanding of the job that FA figures talk about, given that he supplied so many of Southgate’s young players through the Tottenham Hotspur teams of 2016-’19.
Ticked
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would, obviously, tick every box but neither seems remotely likely to be interested at this point in their career.
Then there’s the man almost dismissed as a mere interim. Lee Carsley, however, has long been seen as a potential successor to Southgate. He could even follow the same path, having come up from the U-21s.
He is certainly highly rated, particularly after winning the European Championship. Many in English football insist he turned down Ireland, who he played for as a dual nationality, due to the promise of eventually moving into the senior role.
While an obvious caveat is the lack of club experience, this international path is precisely what the European champions have specialised in.
Luis de La Fuente came up through Spain’s underage teams, and it made a difference at Euro 2024 given how well he knew many of the players. This may be an increasing way forward for international sides. It also touches on exactly that split between the club and international game. They are now different jobs.
England, however, should concentrate on largely keeping on the same path. This appointment should be about continuing and evolving Southgate’s work, rather than changing it. (© The Independent)
‘Fabio Capello had the standing within football for the job but not the understanding’