Lee Carsley has been appointed as the interim England manager for the upcoming Nations League fixtures in September, as the Football Association continues its search for a permanent successor to Gareth Southgate.
The 50-year-old, previously in charge of England’s Under-21 team, steps into the role following Southgate’s resignation just two days after England’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.
Carsley, who has a deep understanding of the players and the demands of international football, stated, “As I am very familiar with the players and the cycle of international football, it makes sense for me to guide the team while the FA continues the process to recruit a new manager.”
He emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity, with the primary aim being to secure promotion in the UEFA Nations League.
A former Premier League midfielder, Carsley enjoyed a 17-year playing career with clubs such as Derby County and Everton.
His managerial experience includes caretaker roles at Coventry City, Brentford, and Birmingham City, before joining the England coaching setup in 2020.
Notably, Carsley led the England U21s to victory in the 2023 European Championship, ending a 39-year title drought for the Young Lions.
England’s Nations League campaign under Carsley’s guidance will begin with an away match against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, 7 September, followed by a home game against Finland three days later.
Reflecting on his playing career, Carsley earned 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland, adding a personal connection to his first fixture as interim England manager.
The FA, in a statement, indicated that Carsley would oversee the national team for the autumn fixtures, with the possibility of extending his tenure while the search for a permanent head coach continues.
The FA’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, praised Carsley’s credentials, saying, “Lee is a fantastic coach who is well known to the majority of our current senior squad having worked with most at international or club level. He offers us a very strong interim solution and we are confident he will perform well in the Uefa Nations League games ahead. We are grateful to Lee for stepping up to manage the team while we continue with our recruitment process.”
Carsley follows in the footsteps of Howard Wilkinson, Stuart Pearce, and Gareth Southgate, all of whom transitioned from managing the England U21s to taking charge of the senior team on an interim basis.
Southgate eventually secured the role permanently, leading England through an eight-year tenure that included a World Cup semi-final in 2018, a World Cup quarter-final in 2022, and reaching the finals of the European Championships in both 2021 and 2024.
As Carsley assumes his new role, Ben Futcher will step in as the England U21 manager, with the FA expected to announce the respective backroom teams for both squads in the near future.
