5 possible candidates to replace Roy Hodgson as England Manager
As England prepare to exit Europe twice in one week, their misery is only compounded further by the fact that they do not have a manager to turn to when they look to rebuild after a failed international tournament. In view of England’s loss to Iceland – the miracle men of the UEFA Euro 2016 – there’s a sense of reckoning which the English football players will need to face once they are back home.
A plethora of superstars, whose incumbent failure to shine for their national team will come under much scrutiny, will be saved partially by the understated furor at the shambolic state of now former manager, Roy Hodgson.
Much has been said over time, as to the underlying thought of appointing a man whose record at the very top level could be firmly recorded as uninspiring over the years. Roy Hodgson always divided opinion and has proven to be a decision better left not taken.
The fans and supporters themselves are so fed up of England’s misfiring attempts at international glory, that the snide and sniggering will need some addressing.
The decision, therefore, falls into the hands of the English Football Association once again, who will be faced with the decision of instilling a sense of faith amongst the team and supporters alike, as opposed to just installing on the hot seat a new manager.
The race for a replacement brings us to a small peek at the men who could replace Roy Hodgson as manager of the English Football Team. So let’s have a look:
#1 Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate will be remembered best by football fans, in a managerial capacity, as the man who took Middlesbrough into the Championship from the Premier League. Hardly inspiring. However, his exploits as manager didn’t end there. In fact, he did go on to take over the England U21s where he has done a remarkable job by most accounts.
Southgate has a win percentage into the high 70s with the Young Lions and is at this present point regarded the ‘safest pair of hands’ to take over the mantle as Senior Coach. It would be a fit appointment in terms of the understanding that a change of guard amongst players is imminent. He would certainly be well equipped to handle the transition of some of his current charges into the senior team should he himself make the switch first.
At the same time, Southgate could be reasonably well poised to phase out the likes of Wayne Rooney while championing the likes of Dele Alli as the younger wards take over.
However, it would be a pertinent question for people to ask if he is the sort of manager who can instill some faith into the English supporters. The answer to that would be closer to ‘not by just being there’. Southgate would need to bank on results to sweep away the gloom and that could mean English fans turning their ire to players, particularly underperforming younger ones, as they wait for results to brighten up. It would be a safe decision but hardly an inspiring one to appoint Gareth.