The 2024 Euros final was Gareth Southgate’s 102nd and final game in charge of the England men’s national team. He ended his eight year stint in charge two days after the final, with the three lions ready to embark on a new era.
England U21s manager Lee Carsley has been in charge of an interim basis, winning three and losing one of his four games in charge so far. Some thought he would be the next manager on a permanent basis, following the same path as Southgate did – being promoted from the U21s.
However, Carsley talked himself out of the job a couple of times over this break, and per many high level reports, the FA have opted for former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel to be the new manager.
It will be very interesting to see what this means for the likes of Dominic Solanke and James Maddison. It was clear that Carsley saw other options ahead of Maddison in the midfield, including players he had worked with for the U21s – so perhaps a good thing for the Spurs number ten.
With Solanke, it is harder to say. Ultimately, Carsley was the manager that gave him his first call up, and cap, in seven years, and he will not have that continuity anymore. That too, and there have been calls for England to move on from Harry Kane, and give Ollie Watkins and Solanke more of a chance. Well, that can probably be put on hold for now, given Kane’s numbers under Tuchel last season.
Considering that Carsley had briefly managed Archie Gray for the U21s, it is a bit of a shame for him too, but you would imagine his time will come in the future regardless, with the teenager still being a player eligible for the U19s – never mind the senior England squad.
It will be interesting to see what this means for Maddison and Solanke in particular in the next 18 months or so heading into the 2026 World Cup.