Lee Carsley enthusiastic for England to move forward in pursuit of glory

Lee Carsley, the caretaker England manager, expressed his goal on August 15 to assist the Three Lions in achieving significant success and ending their 60-year trophy drought by taking the next step forward.

The 50-year-old was promoted last week from his role as England Under-21 manager to take temporary control of the senior team following Gareth Southgate’s resignation.

Southgate stepped down as England boss after eight years in charge in the aftermath of losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain in July. That defeat, their second in successive European Championship finals, left the England men’s team still searching for their first major trophy since winning the 1966 World Cup on home soil.

The next chance they have to end that decades-long drought will be the 2026 World Cup, with Carsley potentially in a position to follow Southgate’s path by graduating from the Under-21 setup into the senior role.

He will definitely oversee the Nations League matches in September against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, with the interim boss also in line to lead England in their other matches in the same competition later in 2024.

But whatever happens to him personally, Carsley was clear on what the ambition should be for England.

“I think we’ve got some outstanding players in the senior team and in the pathway. I think the level of players over the last few years has really improved,” he told England’s YouTube channel.

“You can see that by the way that we’ve done in major tournaments. Obviously that next step is winning, and that’s got to be the objective.

“It’s testament to (Southgate) and the staff that they’re getting to back-to-back finals, which isn’t easy. Now, obviously the last bit is going that extra mile and winning. I think we’ve got the players to do that.

“So hopefully this could be the start of that.”

Carsley, who led the Under-21s to European Championship glory in 2023, is set to name his squad for the September matches on Aug 29.

Despite his lack of a stellar playing career or experience in senior managerial roles, the former defensive midfielder has that tournament experience with the youth side and already has a rapport with many of those who will hope to shine for England at the 2026 World Cup.

Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon described Carsley as the “best man-manager I’ve had so far” after his starring role in winning player of the tournament at the Under-21 Euro.

“Lee is an unbelievable manager and an unbelievable guy. He is ready to step up,” added Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, who has been a regular at Under-21 level over the past two years.

“Whenever I step on the pitch for England I just have freedom to enjoy my football. I feel like he is ready.”

Had Carsley chosen differently he could have been sitting in the home dugout when Ireland host England on Sept 7.

An Irish international, who won 39 caps and played at the 2002 World Cup, he was wanted back in Dublin to lead their national team.

Instead, he decided to stay put, arousing suspicion he had been promised a shot at being Southgate’s successor by the English Football Association (FA).

With the opportunity now, how he handles the spotlight and expectation that comes with leading England will determine his readiness for the role.

During a 19-year playing career he racked up 282 Premier League appearances in spells with Derby, Blackburn, Coventry, Everton and Birmingham.

His best days came playing alongside Thomas Gravesen at Everton which led his former manager David Moyes to joke that Real Madrid had signed the wrong bald midfielder when the Dane moved to the Spanish capital in 2005.

Carsley swiftly transitioned into coaching in the youth ranks at Coventry before beginning his journey with the England development teams in 2016.

During further coaching roles at Brentford and Birmingham he also held the fort as a caretaker manager but was overlooked as a permanent appointment.

Now he has the chance to make his mark with the opportunity of a lifetime. AFP