Who is Lee Carsley? England interim manager who could replace Gareth Southgate full-time

Lee Carsley’s reign as England boss has begun (Photo: Getty)

Lee Carsley’s reign as England interim manager has begun with the Three Lions taking on the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League on Saturday.

It is the first time in nearly eight years that Gareth Southgate won’t be in the England dugout following his resignation after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Carsley, formerly England U21 boss, is taking the reins of the senior side for the autumn fixtures as the Football Association weigh up their options for Southgate’s permanent successor.

Eddie Howe, Pep Guardiola, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel are among the favourites.

But Carsley is the frontrunner. Well-regarded by players and the FA, if all goes well in the next six matches, it is expected that the 50-year-old will land the job full-time.

So who is he? Here’s everything you need to know about Lee Carsley:

Who did Lee Carsley play for?

Carsley came through Derby County’s academy, making his senior debut in 1994.

Carsley played for Everton for six years (Photo: Getty)

The defensive midfielder went onto have a 17-year playing career in the Premier League and Championship, enjoying spells at Derby, Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City (twice), Everton and Birmingham City.

Though born in Birmingham, Carsley was eligible to represent Ireland on the international stage through his grandmother.

He won 40 caps with them between 1997 and 2008, and was part of the squad that went to the 2002 World Cup.

It is because of his allegiance to the Boys in Green that Carsley will not sing God Save the King ahead of every England match

Lee Carsley has been England U21 boss since 2021 (Photo: Getty)

Lee Carsley’s managerial record

Upon retiring at Coventry in 2011, Carsley became their U18s manager and would later have coaching roles at Sheffield United, Manchester City and England’s youth teams.

He would also have caretaker spells in charge of Coventry (twice), Brentford and Birmingham, winning 10 of 24 games in that time.

After a year with the England U20s, he was appointed U21s boss in 2021 – the role Southgate had before he became Three Lions manager.

His record with the Young Lions is impressive, winning 23 of 29 matches (a 79% win percentage), and he was in charge for their European Under-21 Championship triumph in 2023.

Carsley’s side won the U21 Euros in 2023 (Photo: Getty)

England beat Spain in the final and didn’t concede a single goal throughout the tournament with a squad that featured Anthony Gordon, Jarrad Branthwaite, Curtis Jones and Cole Palmer.

Lee Carsley’s preferred tactics and formation

Carsley’s most used formation is an attack-minded 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 which reverts to a 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-2 out of possession.

Regardless of formation, his philosophy is clear: Attacking, fluid and expansive football, something fans will no doubt be happy to see after Southgate’s more pragmatic style sometimes teetered too far on the boring side.

In the final against Spain, Palmer and Gordon started up top together in the absence of a natural No.9 to great effect.

With England’s squad overflowing with attacking midfielders like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Palmer – something that became a problem for Southgate at the Euros – Carsley could use this tactic again.

Lee Carsley’s family

Lee Carsley and his wife Louisa live in Kenilworth and has three children. Their eldest Callum followed his dad into football and would play for several MLS sides.

The defender has since hung up his boots and is now assistant technical director at Birmingham City.

His second son Connor has down syndrome and plays for the Solihull Moors Foundation’s Down’s Syndrome team. Carsley is actively involved with the team and is patron of the Down’s Syndrome Support Group of Solihull.

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