Four things the new England manager must do to end the Three Lions’ trophy drought

Gareth Southgate stepped down as England manager this summer, following a 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. While Southgate brought a positive culture back to the national team and helped foster unity among players, he was unable to deliver silverware despite leading a side brimming with talent that sports betting sites had as pre-tournament favourites. 

His departure leaves big shoes to fill, and the new manager will face significant pressure as England aim to end their trophy drought.

Lee Carsley is expected to take over as England manager permanently, having impressed as caretaker boss in Nations League wins over Ireland and Finland, both finishing 2-0 after some dominant performances. On top of this, his success with the England academy and familiarity with the senior squad give him an advantage. 

However, Eddie Howe, who has revitalised Newcastle United, and Graham Potter, known for his progressive football despite being out of the job for a while, are also in contention after outside talks of Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino were quashed. 

Whoever takes the job, the pressure will be immense as fans’ expectations grow ahead of World Cup 2026 qualification. In this article, we take a look at four key things the next England manager must focus on to finally end the Three Lions’ trophy wait and bring football home.

Keep Southgate’s culture

Despite his lack of silverware, Southgate leaves behind a legacy that the new manager must not overlook. 

Under his tenure, the England team developed a culture of unity, inclusivity, and mutual respect, getting the best out of players from rival clubs and tackling some difficult societal issues like racism and homophobia.

This sense of togetherness allowed the squad to thrive, making them serious contenders in major tournaments. Building on this foundation is essential to maintaining the continuity and morale that will drive the team forward.

Play with excitement

One of the major criticisms of Southgate was his cautious approach in crucial games. While it brought stability, it also stifled creativity and excitement, especially in matches where England needed more attacking flair, like the group stages of the Euros.

The new manager should focus on playing with expression, allowing the players to showcase their attacking potential. Scoring goals has never been an issue for England, but unlocking that next level of fluid, adventurous football could be the key to overcoming their mental blocks in big games.

Beat the big teams

On the topic of big games, England’s poor record against major teams in tournaments has been a recurring problem. 

From the 2018 World Cup semifinal loss to Croatia to the Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy, the Three Lions have struggled to get over the line when it matters most. 

Whoever takes over must find a way to overcome this mental barrier and instil belief in the squad that they can defeat the world’s best on the biggest stage when they head to America in 2026.

Pick teams based on form

Throughout tournament football, Southgate often stuck to a core group of players, even when others were in better form. While he made the exception last summer, there were still some glaring omissions like Dominic Solanke, who had scored 19 goals for Bournemouth last season in the Premier League.

The new manager must be willing to make tough decisions and select players based on their current performances. Recent caps for emerging talents like Rico Lewis and Angel Gomes demonstrate a willingness to look beyond the usual names, and this trend should continue. 

Playing versatile players like Trent Alexander-Arnold in positions where they can thrive is also essential to reaching England’s potential, with the Liverpool number 66 winning man of the match in both games Carsley was in charge.