Explainers

LEE CARSLEY has been appointed as the new interim manager of England.The former Everton midfielder replaces Gareth Southgate as the boss of the Three Lions and will begin his tenure against the Republic of Ireland – the nation he played for.Lee Carlsey has been appointed England interim boss – he won the U21 Euros in 2023Credit: GettyWho is Lee Carsley?Lee Carsley is the new England manager, having been appointed as the interim boss on August 8. Born in Birmingham on February 28, 1974, Carsley enjoyed a long career as a professional footballer, playing for five clubs between 1994 and 2011.His two longest stints were at Derby County and Everton, but he also spent time at Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City, as well as two spells at Coventry City.Carsley’s best spell as a player was under David Moyes at Everton, with a popular urban myth continuing to circulate that Real Madrid were supposed to purchase him when they instead bought midfield partner Thomas Gravesen.More on Lee CarsleyThomas Gravesen with midfield lookalike Lee Carsley, rightCredit: AFPFormer Toffees boss Moyes even perpetuated the rumour on a podcast in 2018.Moyes said: “Everybody used to get [Gravesen] mixed up with Lee Carsley, so when Real Madrid came in for him at Everton, we were saying, ‘Have they got the right one?”Is it Carsley the one or is it Tommy Gravesen? The two baldies and whatnot.”Carsley played 548 matches in his club career and won 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland – his first opponents as England boss.Most read in FootballHe qualified through his grandmother, who was from County Cork, and made one appearance during the 2002 World Cup.His international career lasted from 1997 to 2008.Lee Carsley followed same path as De La Fuente and learned from Pep – why can’t he be England boss?By Tom BarclayBE honest. How many of you had heard of Luis de la Fuente before his glorious Euros?Don’t feel bad. Even Declan Rice admitted ahead of Sunday’s heartbreaking final that he was unaware of the smooth-headed 63-year-old a month or so ago.We all certainly know who De La Fuente is now after he masterminded La Roja’s perfect Euros campaign which ended with a deserved victory over England.That showpiece triumph in Berlin made it seven wins out of seven in the competition for his scintillating side.It rendered De La Fuente the first boss ever to win the Under-19 Euros, Under-21 Euros, the Nations League and the European Championship.And in so doing, it strengthened the case for another bold, bald tactician to take over as England boss now Gareth Southgate has stepped down.Lee Carsley has trodden a similar path as De La Fuente, successfully coaching his way up his national team’s youth ranks, culminating in last summer’s Under-21 Euro success.No doubt there would be questions about his suitability given his experience of coaching senior players is limited to brief caretaker spells at Coventry, Brentford and Birmingham.For sure, he would not bring the same star quality as a Frank Lampard. Most fans will just about remember Carsley as that ratter of a midfielder who played alongside Thomas Gravesen for Everton in the noughties.While there is also the thorny issue, at least for some, of the Brummie’s 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland, who ironically would be his first opponents if appointed.But park all that for a second, focus on his qualities and the argument to give him the big job can be a convincing one. First off, his team does not play like he used to. ‘Carsball’ is far sexier and heavily influenced by its creator watching Pep Guardiola’s free-flowing Barcelona train a decade ago, alongside 60 members of the public.That study trip to Catalonia changed his philosophy to be far more front-footed and it paved the way to some fabulous fare during last summer’s triumph in Georgia.Four of the five tournament goals boasting the most passes in the build-up belonged to his Young Lions. Fans bemoaning Southgate’s pragmatic style would be salivating if they watched back the build-up to Emile Smith Rowe’s strike against Israel in the group stage, or Cole Palmer’s in the semi against the same opposition.Carsley is a tactical innovator too.He was robbed of a centre-forward pretty much on the eve of the tournament last summer, thanks to Rhian Brewster’s injury and Flo Balogun switching to the USA.His response was to play Gordon through the middle. The Newcastle starlet won player of the tournament.Manchester United supporters likely remember Angel Gomes as a lightweight winger but Carsley played him as a shield in front of the back four to great effect.Gordon used the Under-21 Euros experience as his launchpad to make the senior squad this summer. But talking about Carsley 12 months ago, the Toon forward said: “He is the best man-manager I’ve had so far. “I feel like I can speak to him about anything on and off the pitch.“On the pitch, the way we’re playing football is a credit to him because we play the way he tells us to. “This might be the best footballing team I’ve played in, in terms of how we play and the combination play we play around the box, it’s really at an elite level. That’s down to Lee.”Those powers of motivation could be crucial to unleashing Jude Bellingham, who, like Solihull-born Carsley, is from the outskirts of Birmingham, specifically Stourbridge.Like Southgate, Carsley believes in the merits of giving them a comfortable environment to work in, particularly during tournaments.The 50-year-old is relatively quiet on the touchline, often seen on his haunches making notes in his dugout with his assistant Ashley Cole the more vocal.England’s greatest left-back Cole has learned a lot from Carsley despite having the far superior playing career. In the aftermath of the Under-21s success, which was won without conceding a goal, Cole reflected on the different attitudes players have to international duty now and in his day.The ex-Arsenal and Chelsea defender, 43, said: “We didn’t always want to go and the club manager would pull you out.“But I feel they truly, truly love coming here now. I think that is testament to what Lee has done here. He is kind, loving, someone that thinks about the players more than himself.”Other names will be in the frame but the FA will have seen how De La Fuente has taken Spain to new heights, despite his relative obscurity to the wider footballing world.The promotion of Carsley, who spent these Euros scouting England’s opponents, would take guts and faith in the much-feted ‘pathway’.He would have to brace himself for unprecedented levels of scrutiny – but he is ambitious.With his 50th birthday fast approaching, Carsley said in June last year: “Energy-wise, and I’m not saying the clock’s ticking, but if I don’t have a go at it then the boat is going to pass.”Few Spaniards were bowled over when De La Fuente was appointed in 2022 but he put them on course to sensational success.Who is to say putting Carsley at the helm could not have a similar effect?Who has Lee Carsley managed previously?Carlsey had started his coaching badges while a player at Everton and was appointed head coach of Coventry’s Under-18s in July 2011.He lead the side to second in the Premier Academy League and was then promoted to the first-team as a coach, eventually having two spells in charge of the Sky Blues.He won four of 11 matches in that time.Carsley left for Brentford in 2015, who were in the Championship at the time, as manager of the development squad.But after the sudden departure of Marinus Dijkhuizen, he become first-team boss, taking charge of ten matches. He won half of them and was named Championship manager of the month in October 2015, before stepping aside when Dean Smith took over.Harvey Elliott is a huge fan of the new manager, as is Anthony GordonCredit: GettyCarsley remained in youth and academy football for a couple of years at Birmingham City, with the role of Head Professional Development coach.He had another caretaker stint, winning one of three matches in 2017 before leaving the club at the end of that season and then joining the England set-up.Carsley was first appointed manager of the U20 side in September 2021, but only took charge of two matches before being promoted to the U21 side.He had been the manger of England U21s since July 2021, winning a stunning 79.3% of his 29 matches and leading the Young Lions to a U21 Euros win in 2023.Gareth Southgate took the same route from U21s to the senior role.What’s been said about Lee Carsley?Newcastle and England star Anthony Gordon gave a glowing review about Carsley after it emerged he may take over, describing him as the “best man-manager” he had worked under.Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott was similarly impressed by Carsley while playing for the U21s.He said: “Lee is an unbelievable manager and an unbelievable guy. He is ready to step up. “There have been a lot of big clubs sniffing around him and that is credit to himself and his coaching.”Whenever I step on the pitch for England I just have freedom to enjoy my football. I feel like he is ready.”After his appointment Mark Bullingham, FA CEO, said: “Lee is a fantastic coach who is well known to the majority of our current senior squad having worked with most at international or club level. “He offers us a very strong interim solution and we are confident he will perform well in the Uefa Nations League games ahead. “We are grateful to Lee for stepping up to manage the team while we continue with our recruitment process.”Carsley himself said: “It’s an honour to step up and lead this England squad on an interim basis. “As I am very familiar with the players and the cycle of international football, it makes sense for me to guide the team while the FA continues the process to recruit a new manager. READ MORE SUN STORIES”My main priority is to ensure continuity and our goal is to secure promotion in the Uefa Nations League.”It’s not yet clear who will be on Lee Carsley’s staff, Chelsea legend Ashley Cole was his assistant for the U21s, with Joleon Lescott also on the coaching staff.Southgate deserved to win a trophy with England… he made us all proud of our team again, writes Shaun CustisGARETH SOUTHGATE deserved to win a trophy as England manager, write Shaun Custis.Unfortunately, you don’t always get what you deserve in life.No man could have worked harder to give the country the silverware it craved and no man cared more about our national team.As a player he went through agonies after missing that fateful penalty against Germany at Euro 96 — and victory as a manager in the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday would have been a wonderful redemption.Southgate himself said he didn’t believe in fairytales — and there was to be no happy ending as ultimately England came up short again when it mattered.But his legacy should be one of great achievement, not of failure.This is an England boss who transformed our feelings towards the Three Lions.Hardened fans, who claimed they only cared about their club, fell back in love with England during Gareth’s eight years in charge.As The Sun’s chief football writer, I followed England through the Sven Göran Eriksson era, on to Steve McClaren, then Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson.None of them could hold a candle to Southgate.Southgate took it on reluctantly and, when the FA then wanted to make his position permanent, he made it clear he had to have free rein to do the job on his terms.This was to be a new England with no club cliques, no wars with the media and an openness and honesty from coaches and players.He never believed it was the impossible job as many claimed before him.Yes, the Euros was a let-down and England were probably lucky to make the final.But Southgate, by some distance, turned his England team into the most successful since Sir Alf Ramsey’s World Cup winners of 1966.He gave us plenty of entertainment and fun along the way and a reason to feel proud.We were even starting to crack it at penalty shoot-outs.Most importantly, Southgate was a thoroughly decent human being throughout it all, treating everyone with respect — whether you were a player, a fan or part of the media.Read Sun Head of Sport Shaun Custis’ full opinion on Gareth Southgate’s England exit… More