Carsley named interim England manager

Lee Carsley has been appointed interim England manager for September’s Nations League games as the Football Association continues to search for Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor.

The 50-year-old has stepped up from his role as England Under-21 boss to replace Southgate, who resigned two days after defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final last month.

“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,” said Carsley.

“My main priority is to ensure continuity and our goal is to secure promotion in the Uefa Nations League.”

Carsley is a former Premier League midfielder who played for clubs including Derby and Everton during a 17-year career.

He moved into management and took charge of Coventry, Brentford and Birmingham on a caretaker basis before becoming England Under-20 coach in 2020.

Carsley soon became boss of England Under-21s and led them to the European Championship title in 2023 as they won the competition for the first time in 39 years.

England travel to Dublin to play the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, 7 September before they host Finland three days later.

Carsley won 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland during his playing career.

The FA has said Carsley would be in charge for those games “with a view to remaining in the position throughout autumn while the FA’s recruitment process for a new permanent head coach continues”.

“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,” said FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.

“He offers us a very strong interim solution and we are confident he will perform well in the Uefa Nations League games.

“We are grateful to Lee for stepping up to manage the team while we continue with our recruitment process.”

Howard Wilkinson, Stuart Pearce and Southgate have all previously stepped up to take charge of the senior team after managing the Young Lions.

Southgate went on to secure the job permanently and led the side for eight years, reaching a World Cup semi-final in 2018, a World Cup quarter-final in 2022 and Euros finals in 2021 and 2024.

The FA has been conducting a search for a replacement and a job advert was published on its website.

Ben Futcher will replace Carsley as England U21 boss, with “respective backroom teams for both squads to be confirmed in due course”.