Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp endorsed to take over as England boss by Sven-Goran Eriksson after Gareth Southgate resignation in wake of Euro 2024 final failure

The Football Association are on the hunt for a new manager after Southgate announced he was stepping down following England's defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024. He departs after eight years in the role during which time he reached two European Championship finals and the last four of the World Cup in 2018. A host of names have already been linked with the vacant position including Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino as well as Klopp and Guardiola.

Klopp is taking a break from football after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season and so is not expected to replace Southgate. Meanwhile, Guardiola has hinted he could walk away from Manchester City next summer, with the FA said to be willing to wait for the Spaniard. Eriksson, who became the first foreign manager of England back in 2001, says either man would be ideal for the role.

He told The Telegraph: "If he is English, or foreign, I don’t think it should mean much. You just have to find a top manager, or a young one with a good future. If you want to aim high, the obvious two contenders are Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola. They know English football, the players and culture. If there was even the slightest suggestion they were interested in the job, England should go for it. We are talking about two of the best managers in the world. Klopp is taking a break and I’m not sure whether stepping down from Manchester City is in Pep’s mind. But you have to aim high, and appointing either of those two would be a huge statement for England and their aims for the future."

Howe has emerged as the early favourite to be the next England manager, with Alan Shearer saying he would be an "outstanding" pick. Former Germany boss Joachim Low and Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou have also been added to the list of potential candidates in recent days as the search for Southgate's successor continues.