It’s fast approaching two months since Gareth Southgate decided to call time on his eight-year spell in charge of the England national team.
The 53-year-old resigned from his position shortly after the Three Lions’ heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.
Southgate helped transform England’s fortunes on the game's biggest stages, steering his side to successive European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final.
The FA have big shoes to fill, and this article will examine the bookies’ favourites to replace the now-former England boss.
Lee Carsley
Lee Carsley’s odds continue to shorten in the next permanent England manager market, with the former Birmingham boss now back into 2/1 favourite on Bet 365. The England Under 21 manager led the Young Lions to European Championship success last summer, and he is reportedly well thought of by the FA.
Southgate was promoted from the same position that Carsley currently occupies so the 50-year old could well find himself on a similar career path. Carsley will have the chance to audition for the job as he has been named interim England boss for the start of the Three Lions' Nations League campaign which gets underway later this week.
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is now a 4/1 joint-second favourite on Bet 365. The Man City chief has entered the last year of his contract and he has hinted that this could be his last season in the Etihad hot seat. Not only has Guardiola overseen unparalleled success with City, but he has completely transformed English football as a whole with his total football philosophy.
Pep would be the universal selection among the England support to lead the country and the Three Lions would surely be primed for success with the Spanish supremo at the wheel.
Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe remains one of the favourites to replace Southgate as England manager, with his odds shortening over the last seven days to 4/1 on Bet 365. Howe is well-regarded after piloting Newcastle from the relegation zone to the top four in the Premier League, not to mention he also worked wonders when taking Bournemouth from League Two to the top flight in this space in six years.
His Newcastle side have started the new Premier League season strongly, collecting seven points from a possible nine. With Howe’s contract with the Magpies set to run until the summer of 2027, a costly compensation obstacle would have to be overcome.
Mauricio Pochettino
Priced up at 5/1 on Bet 365, Mauricio Pochettino finds himself back among the leading contenders to be appointed England's next permanent manager. The Argentine will be a man in demand after his shock departure from Chelsea, having only been at Stamford Bridge for a single season. The Blues ended last season strongly and qualified for Europe with a sixth-placed finish.
Pochettino has also been linked with the USA’s national team role in recent weeks.
Graham Potter
Initially the bookmakers' favourite to replace Southgate, Graham Potter has drifted out to 8/1 on Bet 365 to land the national job. The 49-year-old has been out of work since April 2023 following an ill-fated seven-month spell in charge of Chelsea. Prior to his brief spell at Stamford Bridge, Potter enjoyed plenty of success at Brighton and he also did stellar work as boss of both Swansea and Swedish outfit Ostersunds.
Southgate was sustainedly criticised throughout his tenure for his risk-averse tactics, and Potter would certainly inject a more proactive approach into an England team laced with world-class talent.
Freelance Sports Writer and Betting Analyst with over five years experience. I’ve written football and darts betting content for some of the biggest betting websites and newspapers in the UK. With a strong passion for the fascinating world of Scottish football, I also regularly feature in Nutmeg, the much-loved Scottish football magazine. Falkirk season ticket holder and avid watcher of football and darts, whether it be UK-based or further afield. Feel free to follow me on X @SlipsTips
In December 2020 we sadly 
