MyBettingSites had the pleasure of sitting down with former Manchester United defender Paul Parker to discuss the breaking news that Gareth Southgate has quit as England manager after eight years in charge of the national team. Parker delved into Southgate’s tenure as well as his potential replacements.
In this article:
- Gareth Southgate’s legacy
- Southgate’s style leans towards international football?
- Germany would laugh at England if they hired Klopp
- Graham Potter and Eddie Howe are early favourites
- Lampard is being endorsed by Gary Lineker
Gareth Southgate’s legacy
After eight years in charge of the England national team Gareth Southgate has called it quits. England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain on Sunday was Southgate’s final game in charge. Southgate took temporary charge of the side in September 2016, and was unbeaten in four games which earned him the role on a permanent basis. Having taken over during a time where the national team was in shambles, Southgate has been able to lead England to the semi-finals of a World Cup and double finals heartbreak at both Euro 2020 and 2024. Parker shares his admiration for Southgate’s work and believes it has potentially helped his reputation should he decide to return to club football.
“The fact will be he’s been to the semifinals and two finals. Some people will say it means nothing. You haven’t won anything. Well, there’s only so much you can win as a national team manager. There are two tournaments that matter. It’s been better than anyone else since 1966. I think international football, I will say, is diluting. Now it’s nowhere near as strong as it was years back. Not in a million years. Nowhere near to it. The quality and the strengths of the teams are nowhere near. So, England are in this position now, where the chances of getting to finals is a lot easier than what it was before.
“So he leaves behind what he’s done. He’s done a great job. He doesn’t need me to tell him. He knows that himself. It’s going to take a hell of an achievement for any manager to get near to what he’s done in that time. To get to so many semi-finals and finals can only help him in the sense of when he’s given the opportunity again to become a club manager because his record as a club manager isn’t not very good.”
Southgate’s style leans towards international football?
Southgate’s record is hugely impressive having overseen 102 games in which England won 61, drew 24, lost 17 with 213 goals scored 213 72 conceded 72 and a 58% win ratio. Some, including Parker, could argue Soithate is better suited to the international game and whilst that could be the cas, Parker remains positive about Southgate’s time in charge.
“But some people are made to manage at international level. They don’t want players in their face that they can’t deal with. Being with players every single day and nursing them every single day. So international football might be Gareth’s strength now. But as far as England is concerned, I would say that he’s done his bit.”
Germany would laugh at England if they hired Klopp
John McDermott and Mark Bullingham, the current FA chief executive will now be tasked with picking out Southgate’s replacement and they have a host of names to choose from which includes Graham Potter, Eddie Howe, Lee Carsley, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp. Parker thinks if England want to be taken seriously they need to appoint an English manager rather than going down the Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello route.
“I would say that to actually be seen as a big nation in football, the manager should come from that nation. I think it makes a big, big difference. We’ve tried it twice , but it wasn’t successful. I don’t know why people want to keep doing that to be perfect. With Pochettino, everyone will say – he hasn’t won anything. Klopp? I don’t know why we’d want to have a German manager, because I think even the Germans would laugh at us that we’ve gone to them for a manager.
“I really, I mean, I don’t know what credentials we’re looking for in an England manager. We’re looking for somebody who looks nice in a suit. Wears the badge? Um, happy to be ‘woke’. Do you say the right things? Are you willing to do what you’re told is what gets you selected as an England manager?
“I think really, if you show any defiance, if you show anything that suggests that you might be a bit of a maverick, you’ll have different ideas. And you see, you might handle players differently. You may want to go and pick a different style of player, you know, then you might not get the job. So, managing England isn’t always the best person for the job. It’s the person who fits the job that most comes first with England.”
Graham Potter and Eddie Howe are early favourites
Graham Potter, who has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in 2023 is nailed on as a bookies favourite alongside Eddie Howe but Parker believes that Potter fits the profile better than the current Newcastle manager in Howe.
“Graham Potter fits the profile in my opinion. The way he is as a person and the way he manages teams, everything suggests to him. Eddie Howe? Does he really need that? Does he really want that? Does he want to win something as a manager at Newcastle before he goes and takes the England job? Because if he goes and wins a trophy at Newcastle, then that might be the time to walk away from Newcastle.
“To be fair, if you want to do it and that’s a great way of doing it and that’s backing yourself. It’s then easier to walk away from a club like Newcastle. To manage England, to put yourself in that position to get persecuted every couple of years.”
Sky Bet already have Potter priced as the favourite to land the England job at a price of 7/4. Below, you’ll find the odds with this betting site for Southgate’s potential replacements.
- Graham Potter @ 7/4
- Lee Carsley @ 9/4
- Eddie Howe @ 11/4
- Mauricio Pochettino @ 8/1
- Jurgen Klopp @ 10/1
- Frank Lampard @ 12/1
- Thomas Tuchel @ 28/1
Odds displayed are correct as of 12:15pm, Tuesday 16th July 2024. Odds are subject to change.
Lampard is being endorsed by Gary Lineker
Frank Lampard is another name that’s been linked to the role but it would be a surprise when you consider his struggles during the latter stages at Chelsea and his time at Everton. Lamaprd has embarked on a punditry journey during his time away from management which Parker argues is an endorsement of some kind by the likes of Gary Lineker.
“I mean, I’ve seen Frank Lampard’s name mentioned and, well, just put up – ‘Paul Parker shrugs shoulders you know because maybe he fits it because of the way he is.’ People have been saying it. They put him up on panels, on TV. That’s normally a way of trying to sell somebody. He’s been endorsed by Gary Lineker as well. I don’t know if that’s the same as getting a knighthood from the King. I don’t know if that means anything, but we’ll have to wait and see.
“Everyone’s going to. Everyone’s going to have their little people they’re working for to push it. It’d be like giving away MBEs and knighthoods and all that kind of thing. It’s who you know.”
