It appears Gareth Southgate might be edging closer to the end of his time as manager of England.
Southgate guided England to the Semi-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, finishing 4th place after losing to Belgium by 2-0 in the 3rd-place final.
Gareth Southgate also led England to the final of the 2020 European Championships, losing 3-2 on penalties.
The Three Lions of England crashed out in the quarter-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and it seems they have had enough of the 53-year-old.
Despite hitting great heights under his tutelage by reaching the final of a major tournament for the first time since the 1966 World Cup, England still haven’t managed to progress beyond that stage.
The 1966 FIFA World Cup champions are eyeing Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, as they view him as a perfect fit to take them to the next level.
England also reportedly have their eyes on Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Eddie Howe, and Brendan Rodgers.
However, Guardiola is a stand-out option in their possible managerial list after the potential exit of Gareth Southgate.
Gareth Southgate as manager of England
Southgate was appointed manager of England on September 28, 2023, and his current deal runs until December 31, 2024, having signed a two-year contract extension in November 2021.
So far, Pep Guardiola has managed Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, and he has had a successful club football managerial career.
The Three Lions are looking to lure him to national team football, as they see it as a new and exciting challenge for him, which he might be interested in accepting.
His stance for the breakaway of Catalonia away from Spain, might not offer him enough leverage to become the manager of La Roja.
Guardiola’s current deal with Manchester City expires on June 30, 2025, about a year after the 2024 European Championships.
There is the possibility of Gareth Southgate spending a decade as England manager, and that could see him remain as coach till the 2026 World Cup.
Arnold and Grealish absent from England’s next international matches
Meanwhile, England have suffered a huge blow after Manchester City star Jack Grealish and Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold withdrew from the squad due to injury concerns.
Alexander Arnold had to undergo a medical examination on Monday, September 4, 2023, after he picked up a knock during Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
Trent Alexander-Arnold felt his hamstring muscle and he was subsequently substituted for Jarell Quansah in the 71st minute of proceedings.
For Jack Grealish, he was absent from Manchester City’s 5-1 win over Fulham on Saturday, September 2, 2023, due to a minor thigh injury.
As part of precautionary measures, Grealish has also been forced to withdraw from the England squad ahead of the European Championships qualifiers against Ukraine and a friendly against Scotland.
Gareth Southgate’s side face the Ukrainians on Saturday, September 9, 2023, while they also trade tackles with Scotland three days later on September 12, 2023.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jack Grealish featured for England in their last European Championships qualifying encounters against Malta and North Macedonia on June 16 and June 19, 2023, respectively.
England statement on Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold
England released a statement concerning the withdrawal of both players and it reads: “Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been ruled out of England’s September fixtures.
“The pair reported to St. George’s Park on Monday but have since withdrawn from the Three Lions squad following checks on injuries sustained prior to camp.”
Grealish has made 32 appearances for England, scoring 2 goals and providing 6 assists, while Arnold has made 20 appearances, scoring 2 goals and providing 5 assists.
Despite the withdrawal of Jack Grealish and Alexander-Arnold from the England squad, Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling would not be called up to replace the Englishman.
In the statement released on Monday, September 4, 2023, by the English FA, it was revealed that Southgate is not expected to invite replacements for either of the injured stars.
Gareth Southgate claimed on August 31, 2023, that Raheem Sterling was not happy that he wasn’t invited to the national team for the upcoming international matches.
Sterling has made 82 appearances for England, scoring 20 goals and providing 27 assists.
