Alan Pardew has given his verdict on England’s managerial situation after Gareth Southgate’s side lost 2-1 to Spain on Sunday night.
Southgate became the first manager in European Championship history to lose two finals at the European Championship; as Italy defeated his side in 2021 and Luis de la Fuente added to his misery in 2024.
After Cole Palmer’s stunning equaliser off the bench, it seemed written in the stars for the former Middlesbrough manager to finally lead England to glory at a major tournament.
In December last year, journalist Guillem Balague revealed that Pep Guardiola would be open to managing England after leaving Manchester City.
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Alan Pardew names Pep Guardiola as ‘number one’ Gareth Southgate replacement for England job
The Catalan’s current contract expires at the club in 2025 — meaning that he either decides to leave City this summer to take over the Three Lions job or does so after his deal ends — a year before the 2026 World Cup. In May, Guardiola confirmed he will stay at Manchester City next season, which rules out the aforementioned first option.
While speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Southgate refused to confirm whether he had managed England in his final game at the Olympiastadion.
It is likely that opinions will be split about whether the Englishman should stay on — with Spain having outplayed his side in the final of a tournament where individual brilliance often bailed them out.
But Alan Pardew believes it is time for England to replace Gareth Southgate with Pep Guardiola — who he has put down as his first-choice to take over the job.
Pardew told talkSPORT: “My number one is Pep Guardiola. Go and get the best. He knows English football, as he’s at Man City, and I think we could prise him away from there, he probably needs a new challenge.“
“Also on my list, I’ve got Jurgen Klopp, Mikel Arteta, Graham Potter, Eddie Howe, Jose Mourinho and I’ve got Sean Dyche.”
Guardiola would make England look convincing unlike Southgate
While many would agree with Alan Pardew and vouch for Pep Guardiola to replace Gareth Southgate as England boss, it seems unlikely that will occur.
The Football Association (FA) would perhaps be hesitant to appoint a manager, even of the £378,846-a-week man’s stature just a year before the 2026 World Cup.
Especially if the FA replace Southgate with an interim manager in the meantime.
Similarly, the Manchester City boss perhaps would ideally like to manage a national team over a two-year spell before heading into a major tournament with them.
It is indisputable that while England looked wholly unconvincing throughout Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate and have done since the start of his tenure, Pep Guardiola would make them look like a group that is singing from the same hymn sheet.
Guardiola has brought about a massive change in terms of any club’s style of play throughout his career and he would bring a footballing identity to this Three Lions side.
Regardless of whether the two-time treble-winner won a trophy or not, England’s pathway to winning one would seem a lot clearer due to how defined his philosophy is.
