Pep Guardiola has been approached by the FA about being appointed as the next England boss, with the trophy-laden Manchester City manager expected to make a decision on his next steps in the coming weeks.
The likelihood of interim Lee Carsley remaining in the job is waning by the day following a humiliating defeat to Greece and increasingly confusing comments made by the coach about his suitability for the role.
Not even Carsley himself seems to want the job, with the boss saying he would ‘hopefully…be going back to the [under]-21s’.
He then created further confusion following another win over lowly Finland, claiming the Three Lions role was for ‘a world class coach who’s won trophies’ before later stressing that this did not rule him out.
With rumours swirling as to who will be the next occupant of the England hotseat, it seems the FA are setting their sights high, having inquired into Guardiola at the start of this season, The Times reports.
Pep Guardiola has been ‘contacted about being appointed as the next Three Lions boss’
The likelihood of interim Lee Carsley remaining in the job is waning by the day
The Three Lions suffered a humiliating defeat to Greece at Wembley on Thursday evening
The contact is believed to be informal but the Spaniard, who has won a glut of trophies at City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, is the preferred option for the role.
FA chiefs have not decided yet who will be the permanent successor to Gareth Southgate, who left in the summer following a heartbreaking loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, and other candidates are in the conversation.
Unsurprisingly City, who have won six Premier League titles during the 53-year-old’s reign, are keen to hang on to their man but have a fight on their hands, with Guardiola’s contract expiring in June.
On the Spaniard’s part, he is biding his time, having not yet replied to the FA and remaining very coy about his future whenever asked.
Asked whether he has decided to be the next England manager, Guardiola told Italian TV show Che Tempo Che Fa: ‘It’s not true. I’m Manchester City manager.’
However, he refused to rule anything out as he said: ‘I’ve not decided anything, everything can happen. So I don’t know’.
Guardiola commented further on his future at City amid continued uncertainty as he said: ‘I still need to reflect and decide what I want to do’.
Pundit Roy Keane has suggested the Spaniard is the ‘best guy’ and worth waiting until the end of his 2025 contract for, and few Three Lions fans would disagree.
Vangelis Pavlidis netted twice for Greece with the second goal coming deep in stoppage time
Lee Carsley’s England side were humbled at Wembley as they were beaten 2-1 by Greece
England returned to winning ways in the Nations League after beating Finland in Helsinki
Speaking on ITV, Keane said: ‘Go after Pep [Guardiola], go for the best. Pep’s contract is up the summer.
‘The FA have to go for the best guy, I don’t know if finances will play a part in it.
‘If Lee (Carsley) obviously rules himself, and he’s not interested, and that seems to be the noises coming out, then the FA better get busy and get the right man.’
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