Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is the frontrunner to be the next England manager.
According to a report from i, Mauricio Pochettino could be the next England manager as he is currently the leading candidate for the role. The former Chelsea boss is currently without a job and with Gareth Southgate stepping down, the English FA are looking at the Argentine manager.
Pochettino has spent the majority of his coaching career in England and he is open to taking over the national team who have reached great heights under Southgate. He might not have ended their wait for major silverware but he has surely done his bit by helping the team reach the knockout phases of the last two World Cups and guiding them to the finals of the last two European Championships.
Southgate ended his eight-year-long stint as England’s manager in July and the English FA are now working hard to ensure they find the right replacement. While former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe have both ruled themselves out of the race, there are quite a few candidates who have been linked with the role.
Mauricio Pochettino to be the next England manager?
Mark Bullingham, the FA chief executive was looking for approval to interview foreign candidates for the role. While the FA have approved his request, they will only hire someone with a strong affinity to England and Pochettino surely has that having worked at Chelsea, Tottenham and Southampton for around a decade.
The Argentine manager was handed over the reins of a young Chelsea squad last summer. While he did try to get the Blues back on track, Pochettino didn’t do a convincing enough job and they ended up parting ways with him. Now, he is looking for a way back and the England job could be his next role.
While the English FA do not really have time on their hands with Nations League fixtures coming up in four weeks, Bullingham and the FA do not want to rush into any decision. They will take their time with the appointment as the job application only closes at the start of the month.
For now, England Under-21 coach Lee Carsley will take over as the interim boss and this will be an opportunity to audition for the role. But, with Pochettino open to the move, he is emerging as the leading candidate as he fits all the requirements of the board.
