Harry Kane, Thomas TuchelThomas Tuchel for England? FA gives approval for foreign appointment with Mauricio Pochettino also among the leading candidates

The English FA has given its approval for the appointment of a foreign manager as Gareth Southgate’s successor.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Southgate called it time on his eight-year tenure as the head coach of the England national team following the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 final loss to Spain last month. The FA are currently in the process of identifying his successor and are not ruling out the appointment of a foreign coach, per The Guardian.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As per the report, it was the FA’s CEO Mark Bullingham who took the idea to the other nine board members for their backing, and the idea was approved. It means that foreign candidates will be approached for the position, as well as English ones.

Thomas Tuchel Mauricio Pochettino

WHAT’S MORE?

As per the report, former Chelsea bosses Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino are the top foreign choices to succeed Southgate. They will also keep chasing Howe and Graham Potter in the meantime as Tuchel and Pochettino may have very high salary demands.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE THREE LIONS?

The English FA will hope to hire Southgate’s appointment swiftly but won’t rush the process; the priority is making sure they get the right person. Under-21 manager Lee Carsley, himself a candidate for the senior job, is expected to take interim charge with a clash against the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League to come on September 7.