Coaching in this country has hugely improved in recent years, with a plethora of exciting English managers around right now
Southgate has selected his 26-man squad
(Image credit: Valerio Pennicino – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
The movie Mike Bassett: England Manager likes to paint English managers as something very idiosyncratic. Old-fashioned as we might be on this rainy isle, with a penchant for 4-4-2, coaching in Blighty is evolving.
England are currently enjoying something of a golden era in terms of emerging playing talent and while there's not the same depth when it comes to managerial expertise, there are plenty of exciting young English managers out there, plus a few grizzled old faces who just won't be beaten.
With the England job potentially being up for grabs in the not-too-distant future after Gareth Southgate contemplates his Three Lions future following the Euro 2024 final defeat, here's a look at some of the English managers that we rate particularly highly...
10. Paul Heckingbottom
Paul Heckingbottom (Image credit: Ian Rutherford)
Succeeding the inspirational Chris Wilder at Sheffield United was always going to be a seriously tough task back in 2021– but Paul Heckingbottom was given time, and that decision paid off, at least in the short term.
While he was unable to keep the Blades in the Premier League in 2020/21, Heckingbottom steered them back to the top flight as Championship runners-up the following campaign. However, the under-resourced Blades would again struggle in the top flight and in true South Yorkshire to-me, to-you style, Wilder was back in charge by the end of 2023.
With plenty of experience and two promotions on CV, the 46-year-old Heckingbottom should find himself back in work before too long.
9. Michael Carrick
(Image credit: Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Former Manchester United players haven’t always made good managers – but one-time midfield string-puller Michael Carrick certainly made a fine start to his coaching career with Middlesbrough.
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He started by taking Boro from the Championship relegation zone to the play-offs during his first six months in charge– and, while his side were ultimately beaten by Coventry in the semi-finals, the ex-England man has instilled a highly effective brand of football bearing the hallmarks of his own metronomic playing style.
He was able to get over a poor start in his second season last year and would end up guiding Boro to the last four of the League Cup and ended the season in eighth place.
8. Mark Robins
(Image credit: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
And it was another ex-Man United player who inflicted defeat on Carrick and co: Mark Robins, the man whose 1990 goal it’s said saved Sir Alex Ferguson from the sack, has overseen Coventry’s rise from League Two to the Championship – and he very nearly finished the job 12 months ago, only to lose a playoff final on penalties to Luton Town.
He was back at Wembley last season and came oh-so-close to embarrassing the Red Devils in the FA Cup semi-final, as his side continue to go from strength to strength during Robins’ seven years at the helm.
7. Will Still
(Image credit: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Until this summer, he was the only English manager in the top four continental European leagues – but the wild praise Will Still received during his time at Reims last season was very much on merit, as he guided the former French champions to 11th placed in Ligue 1 during the 2022/23 season – embarking on a 18-match unbeaten run along the way.
Born in Belgium to English parents, the 31-year-old Still was younger than many of his players at Reims as he enjoyed the dream of so many of us mere mortals and turned his Football Manager obsession into a real-life managerial career.
His time ar Reims came to an end in May after ninth-place finish in Ligue 1 and has now joined Lens, who qualified for the playoff round of the Europa Conference last season.
6. Graham Potter
Graham Potter (Image credit: Adam Davy)
While he may been out of the game since his Chelsea dismissal in April 2023, it’s more of a case of the 49-year-old wanting to choose his next move carefully than him having a lack of suitors, with the likes of Ajax and Leicester City the two most recent teams to show an interest.
The likes of Marcelo Bielsa and Pep Guardiola have praised Potter after coming up against his teams in the past, with the former York City left-back being touted as a potential England manager for several years now. His spell at Brighton remains his career highpoint so far and only the harshest critic would point the finger at him for failing to succeed at Chelsea, given the chaos he had to deal with behind the scenes there.
5. Gary O'Neil
Gary O'Neil (Image credit: Getty Images)
The 41-year-old is only two years into his managerial career, but has been turning heads so far. His dismissal from Bournemouth after keeping the Cherries in the Premier League in 2022/23 was roundly criticised, but he was quickly back in work at Wolves, where he quickly revitalised the team with a more adventurous style of play.
Wolves’ tally of 50 Premier League goals last season was a big jump from the 36, 38 and 31 goals they had managed in the three previous campaigns, with O’Neil showing plenty of tactical versatility and adaptability.
4. Rob Edwards
Luton Town manager Rob Edwards (Image credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
It took Rob Edwards all of seven months in the Luton dugout to complete one of the great modern football comeback stories as he masterminded the final promotion of the Hatters’ remarkable journey from non-League to the Premier League – having begun the season in charge of their arch-rivals Watford.
This rapid accent saw him go from Forest Green in League Two to the top flight and although the Hatters were not able to survive in the Premier Leauge, they made a better attempt than their fellow promoted sides in Burnley and Sheffield United, meaning Edwards will get the chance to bounce back this season.
3. Sean Dyche
(Image credit: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
After cultivating a reputation for no-nonsense, pragmatic, physical football, Sean Dyche's work at Everton over the past 18 months has proved he is far more than a one-trick pony.
Shutting out the noise of the Toffees' financial implosion and taking two sets of points deductions on the chin, Dyche was able follow up his final day survival act in 2022/23 by keeping his team's head above water last season, with a 15th-place finish. Has that knack of being able to get a tune out of every team he has managed.
2. Gareth Southgate
(Image credit: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
It was another case of so close, yet so far when it came to ending England's trophy drought at Euro 2024 for the Three Lions' most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey as we wait to see where Gareth Southgate's future lies.
No-one is arguing with Southgate's record, as two consecutive European Championship final appearances and a World Cup semi-final place have restore pride in the Three Lions and set new standards, but criticism over his style of play in Germany has left many wondering if it's time a for a change.
1. Eddie Howe
(Image credit: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Eddie Howe made quite a name for himself by guiding Bournemouth from League Two all the way to the Premier League – and keeping them there for four seasons – but he’s taken his managerial reputation to new levels at Newcastle.
The 45-year-old succeeded Steve Bruce as Magpies boss shortly after the club’s mega-money takeover in October 2021 – and he’s not looked back, turning Newcastle into a domestic force once again, bringing Champions League football back to St James' Park after two decades last season.
Found the going slightly tougher in 2023/24, but has steadfastly been among the bookies' favourites for the next England manager for some time now.
Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.
