FA invites applications for England head coach role following Gareth Southgate departure

The FA has invited applications to become the new England manager following the resignation of Gareth Southgate.

Southgate stepped down after England’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, drawing a line under one of the most successful spells for the men’s national team.

Having reached the finals of successive European Championships and the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the World Cups he took the team into, Southgate leaves big shoes to fill.

Numerous high-profile managers have been linked with the job, and the FA say they have already identified “a number of candidates” as part of their succession planning.

However, as part of what they say is a commitment to an open recruitment process, the vacancy has also been advertised, with the organisation saying they are interested in hearing from candidates who believe they meet their strict criteria.

Describing the role, the FA sets a simple but difficult target, stating that the successful candidate will be expected to “lead and develop the England senior men’s team to win a major tournament and be consistently ranked as one of the top teams in the world”.

Applicants should hold a UEFA Pro License, have “significant experience in English football” and have a strong track record as an English Premier League manager or in “leading international competitions”.

The role has been described in the past as “the impossible job” and only one previous manager has won a major trophy.

The FA say they are looking for a manager who “will enjoy the international football environment” and who is “highly resilient and comfortable in a very high-profile role with intense public scrutiny”.

In addition to having the ability to manage and develop talent, and create the right culture for on-field success, the successful applicant is expected to have “strong personal values and integrity and understand and embrace the role that the England men’s senior team head coach has inspiring the nation”.

The FA has asked anyone meeting all of their criteria to apply in writing.