Gary Lineker expresses preference for Lee Carsley as England consider appointing Thomas Tuchel
Former footballer Gary Lineker has shared his viewpoint on the potential appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the new England manager by stating that his choice would have been Lee Carsley for the role. The Football Association (FA) is gearing up to introduce Tuchel as the successor to Gareth Southgate, bringing an end to extensive speculation surrounding the position.
After Southgate’s departure post Euro 2024, Carsley has been serving as the interim manager, overseeing a mixed bag of outcomes during his tenure. While he secured victories against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, a recent defeat to Greece raised doubts about his suitability for the job. Despite this, Lineker remains firm in his belief that Carsley, who is currently managing the England Under 21s, would have been a solid choice for the permanent position.
During a podcast interview with The Rest is Football, Lineker shared, “I’d have given the job to Lee Carsley. I have seen enough to suggest to me the players really trust him. And he is imaginative enough to produce something that is a joy to watch, is entertaining and front-footed football. I’d have gone for Lee Carsley (but) it is not my job to pick people like that.”
As Tuchel is on the brink of being appointed, he will be the third non-English manager to take charge of the men’s senior side, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
The decision to appoint Tuchel comes after a period of uncertainty and anticipation within the football community. Lineker’s perspective sheds light on the different directions the England managerial role could have taken, with both Carsley and Tuchel offering unique attributes to lead the national team to future success.