Liverpool great Jamie Carragher has advised the FA to eschew the temptation to appoint a high-profile foreign manager to replace Gareth Southgate after the England head coach announced his resignation.
The former Three Lions defender issued his warning to Wembley decision-makers as the outgoing boss called time on his eight-year spell in the national team hot seat. The 53-year-old oversaw over 100 games in the role, while reaching back-to-back European Championships finals.
His performance as manager across his four tournaments in charge arguably puts him second behind only World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsay in terms of his historic standing among England helmsmen of yesteryear. However, after suffering the heartache of a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 showpiece Southgate has decided to walk away from his post.
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Now, with the FA tasked with eventually replacing former Middlesbrough boss, Anfield icon Carragher was resolute in his belief that his successor should be an Englishman. Revealing his stance, he told Sky Sports : "For me, yes. I'm not a believer of foreign managers managing England. It's nothing against foreigners - what foreign managers and players have done to the Premier League is amazing.
"It's basically made what our league is today which is the envy of the world. But we're not an emerging nation, we're England and I know we've only won one trophy but other countries on our level - Italy, Spain, Germany - they don't have foreign managers. We don't need a foreign manager, we've done it before."
Pointing to the inferior performances of previous foreign coaches in the role when compared with the relative success of the Southgate era, he continued: "I was involved in those times under Sven (Goran-Eriksson) and Fabio Capello - it wasn't great. Not a patch on what Gareth Southgate's done.
"He had no pedigree in management before getting the job and I think that tells you in itself that it's not about going and getting the best manager in club football. Club football is completely different. Spain have just won the tournament with a coach no one really knows. I'm not a big believer in that you have to get a Jurgen Klopp or a Pep Guardiola and that will make the difference."
Explaining his comments about the prospect of Klopp or Guardiola taking the reins, he added: "International football is knockout football. If you look at the Champions League , Pep Guardiola doesn't win it every year even though he's the best manager and probably has the best team. Things can go awry, things can happen."
Announcing his departure, Southgate said in a statement: "As a proud Englishman, it has been the honor of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all. But it’s time for change and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager."
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