Tuchel and Guardiola leap to top of England’s shortlist

The Football Association is stepping up its attempts to install a new England manager with contrasting reports suggesting Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola head the shortlist.

Sky Sports News repeated suggestions from Germany over the weekend that Tuchel is the frontrunner while ESPN said the FA has sounded out Guardiola.

Tuchel is currently out of work after leaving Bayern Munich in May, 12 months before his contract was due to expire, following a disappointing season that saw them lose their Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen.

He has experience of working in England after a 20-month spell at Chelsea that saw him help the club win the Champions League in 2021.

Sky claim the FA has already held talks with his representatives.

A fifth #ThreeLions goal for @_DeclanRice – brilliantly assisted by Ollie Watkins! 👌

— England (@England) October 14, 2024

Guardiola’s situation is more complicated. The Catalan is out of contract at Manchester City at the end of the season and has yet to commit to extending his stay at the Etihad, despite suggestions he has been offered a 12-month extension.

ESPN claim Guardiola will inform City of his plans by the end of January, although that timeline could change depending on the outcome of the hearing into the club’s alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations.

Another factor could be the departure of Txiki Begiristain as City’s sporting director at the end of the season with Portuguese Hugo Viana announced on Saturday as his replacement.

Guardiola has spoken previously of his desire to coach an international side and it’s highly unlikely he would consider Spain for political reasons.

England are currently being coached by Lee Carsley on an interim basis. Carsley impressed initially but the manner of the 2-1 defeat to Greece last week is believed to have accelerated the FA’s moves to find a long-term successor to Gareth Southgate, who stood down after Euro 2024.

Under-21 boss Carsley has given mixed messages about whether he wants the job permanently but it seems unlikely he will now be in the mix given the calibre of alternatives.

Graham Potter and Eddie Howe have also been named as potential candidates.