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The Football Association will consider foreign candidates to replace Gareth Southgate if the England manager stands down from his post.
That will be a boost to former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino and ex-Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel, who are open to the prospect of succeeding Southgate.
Southgate is considering his future after England’s World Cup exit to France, with the FA desperate for him to stay on and see out his contract that runs to December 2024.
The FA have been forced to contemplate all possible scenarios as they wait to find out what Southgate will decide, including the prospect of hiring a foreign successor.
Sources insist the FA would want to identify a successor to Southgate from the widest possible talent pool, including foreign candidates such as Pochettino and Tuchel.
It has also been pointed out that the manager of England’s women’s team, who won the European Championships during the summer, is Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman.
Wiegman, who was head coach of Holland, was appointed as successor to Phil Neville on a contract which runs until 2025.
The FA’s preference remains very much for Southgate to continue in his post and a willingness to consider foreign candidates does not mean Pochettino or Tuchel would automatically be favourite to succeed him should he step down.
But, led by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham and technical director John McDermott, who worked with Pochettino at Tottenham, the pros and cons of all the best candidates, foreign and English, would be weighed up.
Pochettino watched England in Qatar and confirmed his interest in succeeding Southgate days before their World Cup opener against Iran by saying: “Of course, my relationship with England has always been very good.
“We have a very good relationship with the academies, trying to develop young players for the national team. I feel so comfortable here. You never know what happens. I am open to everything.”
Asked about managers such as Pochettino and Tuchel being interested in succeeding him, Southgate said: “Look, maybe we’ve made it [the impossible] look possible and it’s exciting for other people, and I can understand that.”
Even though Pochettino and Tuchel have worked in the Premier League with a host of England’s players, it is already clear there would be opposition from outside over appointing a German or an Argentine to take charge of the national team.
Financial constraints could limit search
Daily MailThe FA have appointed two foreign managers in the past, although, unlike Pochettino and Tuchel, neither Sven-Goran Eriksson nor Fabio Capello had already managed in England beforehand.
Another potential stumbling block over a move for three of the leading candidates, Pochettino, Tuchel or Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers, would be the FA’s financial constraints.
Southgate is believed to earn around £6 million a year as England manager, which is £2m less than Rodgers pockets as Leicester manager.
Leicester would, in theory, be due compensation of around £8m for Rodgers, who has a contract that runs to 2025, and he earns the same amount as a yearly salary.
The FA would not want to smash their wage structure or pay a big compensation bill for a new manager, given the cost of living crisis and the fact they are a not-for-profit organisation.
That could also present an issue over Pochettino and Tuchel, even though both men are currently out of work.
Pochettino was paid around £10m in his last job at Paris Saint-Germain and was offered a similar amount to take the Aston Villa post, which he eventually turned down.
The Argentine’s staff also come at a cost of roughly £2m a year and there is no prospect of Pochettino taking a job without his trusted backroom team.
Pochettino and Tuchel are thought to be broadly aware of the organisation’s budgetary constraints.
Tuchel was earning around £8m at Chelsea and it is not known whether or not he would be prepared to manage England for less. He too would want some of his own staff, although his team is smaller and believed to be cheaper than that of Pochettino.
There is a lack of available English managers with Graham Potter and Eddie Howe unlikely to leave Chelsea or Newcastle United, which could result in Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland entering the frame.
It remains to be seen whether or not two former England midfielders, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, would be considered.
Gerrard is out of work after being sacked by Aston Villa, but won the Scottish title with Rangers, while Lampard brought through several of England’s young stars such as Mason Mount and Reece James while he was in charge at Chelsea, where he managed in the Champions League.
Lampard, who kept Everton in the Premier League last season and has a contract that runs to 2024, would fit within the FA’s financial parameters.
Source:The Telegraph