Lee Carsley will be England manager in September’s Nations League matches – report

Lee Carsley will be appointed as England’s caretaker manager for the Three Lions’ Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland in September, according to widespread reports.

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Carsley has been named full-time after leading England to the 2023 UEFA Euro Under-21 title, winning the competition for the first time since 1984.

Carsley’s predecessor, Gareth Southgate, was also England’s under-21 manager, remaining in charge of the senior side for eight years until stepping down after Euro 2024, where he oversaw Spain’s 2-1 defeat in the final on July 14.

Lee Carsley is set to lead the England men’s team at next month’s Nations Games 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/xljFbMShLk

– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 7, 2024

England manager: ‘Temporary solution’

Speaking after Southgate’s departure, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said their aim was to appoint a replacement “quickly”.

“Our UEFA Nations League campaign starts in September and we have a temporary solution if needed,” he added.

England travel to Dublin on September 7 (5pm BST) and host Finland three days later (7.45pm) at Wembley, where they host Greece on October 10 (7.45pm).

England’s next manager: Lee Carsley figures

Now 50, Carlsley began his playing career at Derby County in 1994, helping the Rams reach the Premier League two seasons later.

Blackburn Rovers paid £3.4 million for his services in 1999, and were relegated to the top flight and failed to gain promotion the following year despite Carsley scoring 11 goals in his second season.

A £2.5m move to Coventry City in December 2000 also led to relegation from the Premier League, with Carsley leaving the Sky Blues in February 2002.

Lee Carsley 👏 pic.twitter.com/3K94KU1H9B

– England (@England) July 8, 2023

He was a Premier League regular making nearly 200 appearances for Everton over six years before moving to Birmingham City in 2008.

Birmingham-born Carsley captained the club and won the Players’ Player of the Season award in 2008-09, finishing his career as Coventry captain in 2010-11.

Qualified for the Republic of Ireland by his grandmother, Carsley’s 40 caps include one appearance at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

As a coach, Carsley had spells in charge of Coventry in 2012 and 2013 and was development manager at Brentford, where he won the Championship Manager of the Month award during a spell as head coach between September and November 2015.

Carsley moved on to coaching at Birmingham and spent 13 days as caretaker manager of the Blues after Harry Redknapp’s exit in September 2017. England made him their Under-20s manager three years later, and he has been in charge of the Under-21s since July. 2021.