Lee Carsley has been named as the interim replacement for Gareth Southgate, who recently stepped down as the manager of the English national football team. The English Football Association (FA) announced the temporary promotion of the former U21 national coach on Friday.
Carsley is set to lead the Three Lions for the first time in September during the Nations League opening matches in his home country of Ireland and then against Finland on home soil. Depending on the progress of the search for a permanent successor to Southgate, Carsley may continue to manage the team in further international matches in the fall.
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Carsley stated, “It is a great honor for me to lead the English team. Knowing most of the players on the team, I believe this solution makes a lot of sense. My main task is to ensure the necessary continuity after the past few years.”
FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham emphasized the confidence the association has in Carsley, stating, “We are very confident that the Nations League matches under Lee’s leadership will be successful. We are grateful that he is taking on this important task while we continue the process of hiring a new team manager.”
As a former professional player, Carsley earned 40 caps for Ireland and played in over 300 matches in the English Premier League for clubs such as Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City, Everton, and Birmingham City. In his coaching career, the 50-year-old led England’s U21 team to a European Championship title in 2023, breaking a 39-year drought. However, his experience as a coach in professional football is limited to interim roles at FC Brentford and Birmingham City.
Southgate resigned from his position last July shortly after England’s defeat in the final of the European Championship against Spain in Berlin. The former player had been in charge of the national team for eight years before stepping down.
Carsley’s appointment as the temporary replacement for Southgate marks a new chapter for the English national team as they look to maintain their success on the international stage. With his experience as a player and coach, Carsley will aim to provide stability and continuity to the team during this transitional period. The FA will continue its search for a permanent manager, but in the meantime, Carsley’s leadership will be crucial in guiding the team through upcoming challenges.