Football

World Cup 2022: Sven-Goran Eriksson names ‘unpopular’ Gareth Southgate successor

World Cup 2022: Sven-Goran Eriksson names ‘unpopular’ Gareth Southgate successor

Ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has had his say on who should be the next manager of the Three Lions.

The Swede has backed ex-Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino as a ‘great fit for England,’ but believes it wouldn’t be a popular choice.

Will Pochettino be Southgate’s successor?

Eriksson, who managed England from 2001 to 2006, believes Pochettino is one of the only options given the fact that most top managers are involved in club football. But he explained that a foreign manager may be an unpopular choice in the dugout.

“Pochettino would be a great fit for England but the English don’t want a foreign manager,” said Eriksson, as reported by the Mirror. “I could imagine Mauricio Pochettino as the manager of England. 

“When he was with Tottenham, he did a great job, I still don’t understand why he was sacked. The football players play under him is fantastic too.

“Most of the big managers are busy with their clubs, if you look at Pep Guardiola, he will not leave Manchester City, why would he do that? You have many coaches like that who England will be unable to appoint if Gareth Southgate was to leave.”

Eriksson: ‘England will always want an English manager’

Eriksson did, however, explain that the FA should do their utmost to keep Southgate. The current England boss has recently said he needs time to reflect on what comes next, adding that it is too soon to make any decision on his future.

Former Three Lions boss Eriksson mentioned ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel as a potential candidate along with Pochettino.

He also emphasised that it seems increasingly clear that the person in the dugout must be English, given Eriksson’s previous experience and indeed the experience of other foreign managers in the role.

“Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel are two very good names, but I hope England keep Southgate for another two years, why not keep him?” said Eriksson.

“England will always want an English manager in charge, it’s in their blood. We foreign managers who have been in that job were always criticised for not being English. 

“If I was the FA, my number one priority would be to keep Southgate, because I don’t know what English manager would be available to take over.”

Southgate

What next for Gareth Southgate?

Southgate’s future remains up in the air, with the boss conflicted over what to do next. It comes after England were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a quarter-final loss to France.

The Three Lions were sent home from the tournament after the 2-1 loss, with captain Harry Kane missing a late penalty to take the game to extra time.

Southgate has previously taken England to a World Cup semi-final in 2018, as well as the final of Euro 2020. The nation ended up on the losing end of both matches.

There has, however, been some failure amid the recent success, with England relegated from their UEFA Nations League group before the World Cup got underway.

Southgate’s men lost three and drew three of their six games, finishing bottom of a group involving Italy, Hungary and Germany.


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