First, a caveat: of all the candidates who could lead England to the 2026 World Cup, none has stronger prospects than Gareth Southgate; if he wants the job, he should keep it for another two years.
Although his tournament record would give him that right, the lack of alternatives is surely one of the reasons why the English Football Association is so desperate to get him to stay.
Graham Potter is considered the favourite but feels his choice is uninspiring and has doubts about his ability to cope with the extreme scrutiny of the most important jobs after his short reign at Chelsea.
Eddie Howe has been the best English manager in the Premier League over the past two seasons, but one of Southgate’s greatest achievements is that he brings a strong social conscience to the role, whereas the Newcastle boss is more of a “stick to football” type.
Lee Carsley would be an option to continue if he retires from the U21 national team, but has never been the No. 1 in the senior team. Sarina Wiegman is another interesting internal candidate, but will have to defend her own European title with the Lionesses next year.
Mauricio Pochettino would be the most attractive and perhaps smartest choice, although the English Football Association would probably prefer an English manager.
And what about Brentford’s Thomas Frank among the left wingers? He is not English either, but like Pochettino, he is a well-known face in English football and has experience of playing for the national team, having worked with Danish youth teams.
The 50-year-old has shown his versatility, with his team Brentford playing dazzling football in the Championship and a more pragmatic game in the Premier League when it matters. His characteristics are similar to Southgate’s – loyal, adored by the players, confident and considerate in the press, open-minded and unconventional in chasing every advantage.
Would he want the job at a time when his stock price is still rising? That’s one of the unknowns. But since the obvious candidates are all pretty mediocre, it’s a question worth asking.
