England’s interim boss, Lee Carsley, is reportedly set to shake things up by bringing in his own team for the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, having already axed some of Gareth Southgate’s trusted analysts.
The Football Association announced last month that 50-year-old Carsley would step into the head coach role temporarily after Southgate decided to step down following the Euro 2024 final.
As the current England Under-21 boss, Carsley is a potential candidate for the permanent position and will have the opportunity to impress FA chiefs in the coming weeks. According to a recent report from The Telegraph, Carsley has let go of Mike Baker and Stephen O’Brien, the team’s two main analysts who worked under Southgate.
Alongside Carsley’s promotion, his Under-21s analyst James Rider and goalkeeping coach Tim Dittmer will join him in the senior set-up, as will Ashley Cole and Joleon Lescott, both of whom were part of the team that won the Under-21s Championship last summer.
It’s also likely that the freelance contracts of Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink and Paul Nevin won’t be renewed, meaning fans can expect a fresh-looking bench when England take on the Republic of Ireland in Dublin next month.
Despite several big names being linked with the England role following Southgate’s exit, Carsley is highly regarded by the FA and could put himself in a strong position during his temporary tenure.
When the interim appointment of Lee Carsley was confirmed, FA CEO Mark Bullingham couldn’t hide his admiration. He remarked: “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 added: “It’s an honour to step up and lead this England squad on an interim basis. 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. My main priority is to ensure continuity and our goal is to secure promotion in the UEFA Nations League.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk