Coach Carsley could signal end of the England manager

Lee Carsley has said he is more of a head coach than a manager and that the latter could become extinct in international football.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

The 50-year-old admitted he previously had doubts about stepping up to take charge of England’s senior team, but that the experience of overseeing a 2-0 win over Ireland in Dublin had been a “massive boost” for his confidence. Morgan GibbsWhite, a previous under-21 player under Carsley who earned his first full cap, said he had noticed the interim boss was “more serious” in his new role.

The build-up to the match had been overshadowed by discussion over Irish links and then whether Carsley would sing the national anthem, only for all that to be swept away with an assertive and initially entertaining performance. The first half was particularly clinical and showed a tactical movement that differed from that of Gareth Southgate’s side. It was also a show of how simply winning games and playing well can drown out much of the noise that surrounds the England job.

This was what Carsley seemed to be getting at as he spoke about the idea of the manager becoming extinct. Britain, Ireland and arguably Brazil are among the few areas that are still fixated on the boss of the national teams being a true figurehead, despite countries like Germany, Argentina and Spain all winning major tournaments after promoting coaches who were within their structure. Carsley could feasibly emulate Luis de la Fuente in following glory at the Under-21 European Championships with a promotion to the senior job, should his temporary role be made permanent.

“I wouldn’t say I was a manager, definitely not,” Carsley said. “I see myself as a head coach. I have some real good support around me who help and take a lot of pressure away from me. That gives me the chance to coach and be on the grass and hopefully make a difference. That’s the way I have got to do it. I couldn’t see myself doing it any other way.”