The Football Association has pinpointed several candidates to succeed Gareth Southgate as they seek an England manager capable of โwinning a major tournament.โ
Southgate resigned on Tuesday following Englandโs defeat in the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
His departure after an eight-year tenure has prompted the FA to initiate a selection process that has linked them with multiple potential candidates.
Leading contenders according to bookmakers include Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, former Chelsea managers Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Thomas Tuchel, alongside Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou.
However, the FA insist the process is open to anyone who meets the criteria it published on Friday in a job profile detailing the qualities required in the next England manager.
The text of the role profile stated: โOur succession planning process has already identified a number of candidates; in addition to this we are committed to open recruitment processes in the football industry.โ
While Southgate earned plaudits for restoring Englandโs tarnished reputation, he failed to end the countryโs wait for a first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
After successive European Championship final defeats and a 2018 World Cup semi-final loss, finally winning a major prize with a squad packed with world-class talent is clearly the top priority for Southgateโs successor.
The FA said they are looking for a manager able to โlead and develop the England senior menโs team to win a major tournament and be consistently ranked as one of the top teams in the worldโ.
The right person would also provide โinspiring leadershipโ to the FAโs technical team and develop and maintain strong relationships with clubs who employ English-qualified players.
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The successful candidate would need to hold a UEFA Pro Licence, possess โsignificant experienceโ of English football and have โa strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitionsโ.
In a pointed reference to the criticism Southgate endured during his time in a role once dubbed the โimpossible jobโ by then England boss Graham Taylor, the FA highlighted the need for an โexceptional leaderโ, โhighly resilientโ and โcomfortable in a very high-profile role with intense public scrutinyโ.
Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, the FA welcomed applications from everyone who meets the criteria.
England Womenโs coach Sarina Wiegman, who led the team to victory at the Womenโs European Championship in 2022, has been linked with replacing Southgate.
The profile includes an email address for interested applicants, potentially opening the way for the FA to be deluged with offers from fans rather than genuine candidates.
The governing body has set August 2 as the closing date for applications.
Englandโs first match of the new season is a Nations League clash with the Republic of Ireland on September 7.