The Football Association (FA) has initiated the search for Gareth Southgate’s successor after he stepped down from his position as England manager.
Southgate’s eight-year tenure had exhilarating highs such as appearances in successive European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final outing.
However, his side ultimately fell short at crucial moments, meaning England’s 58-year wait to win major silverware will extend even further.
FA chief John McDermott is reportedly compiling an expansive shortlist of potential options to replace the former Middlesbrough manager.
Eddie Howe and Graham Potter are the bookmakers’ favourites to replace Southgate, but both of them would be hugely underwhelming appointments.
However, the same cannot be said for Ange Postecoglou. Read on as we assess why the FA must pull out all the stops to appoint the Tottenham Hotspur manager.
Moving on from Cautious Southgate
Southgate’s time in charge of England can be characterised by one word – caution. The 53-year-old set up his side conservatively and constantly failed to take the initiative.
Fans were left frustrated by his reserved style of play and hoped he would sometimes throw caution to the wind given the arsenal of attacking options at his disposal.
England would play no-holds-barred attacking football with Postecoglou in charge. His style of play would get the best out of the Three Lions squad.
Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish are among a plethora of creative players at England’s disposal.
England supporters would be licking their lips at the prospect of these players being unleashed from the chains of Southgate’s cautious approach.
Postecoglou has always played bold and brave football. He is a top candidate for the job, and his attacking style would boost England’s odds of clinching a title.
The Australian is rated as a 33/1 shot to be appointed by England and punters in his homeland will likely view those odds a great value given his track record.
If the Aussie gave any hint that he was interested in replacing Southgate, operators of betting sites would be inundated with wagers on him.
The FA may view Postecoglou as a gamble given his gung-ho style, but his appointment would be an extremely shrewd move by the governing body.
International Experience Cannot be Discounted
Postecoglou has a major advantage over all of the other England managerial candidates – he has previously managed in international football.
While other bosses may need time to get the hang of the job, the 58-year-old could immediately slot into the role and understand what is required.
Postecoglou managed the Australian national team between 2013 and 2017. His team won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup by defeating South Korea in the final.
The former Brisbane Roars boss successfully weaned the national team off their golden generation of 2006 after taking over from Holger Osieck.
He guided Australia to the 2014 World Cup, and they showed terrific fighting spirit despite their elimination in the group stage.
Australia also clinched a spot at the 2018 World Cup under his guidance, although he tendered his resignation two weeks later.
Postecoglou’s international experience positions him to make an immediate impact with England if he gets the job. This could translate into a smoother transition period and positive results.
Postecoglou is a Winner
Southgate set up his teams not to get beat. By contrast, everything Postecoglou does is geared towards instilling a winning mentality into his players.
He has an excellent track record of success, which England desperately need after failing to win any major international silverware since 1966.
Postecoglou previously managed Japanese club Yokohama F Marinos and led them to their first J League title in 15 years.
He won five trophies in two seasons at Celtic including the domestic treble in the 2022/23 season. He is only the second Australian manager to have won trophies at a European club.
His ability to consistently deliver success and experience managing national teams makes him a compelling candidate to replace Southgate as England manager.
Postecoglou’s leadership and winning mentality could be the catalyst for England to end its long wait for major international success.
