Gary Lineker explains why Pep Guardiola ‘might be interested’ in England job – with Man City boss into final year of contract with Premier League champions

The Three Lions are in the market for another permanent boss after seeing Gareth Southgate walk away on the back of a second successive European Championship final defeat. He took in 102 games at the helm over the course of an eight-year reign.

Lee Carsley, who guided England’s U21 side to Euros glory in 2023, has been handed the reins on an interim basis. There has been talk of Guardiola being approached to take charge in 2025, with the six-time Premier League title winner yet to extend his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola has said on his future: “I have to decide what I want to do in my life. If I want to continue here, take a break, train national teams or not - many things.”

Those comments have led former England striker Lineker to tell the Rest Is Football podcast: “I did see an interview a few days ago with Pep Guardiola where he was asked in a press conference if he would be interested in England. And you know, mostly people put that away, but he certainly didn't. And it made me think the way he was talking; I thought he actually might be interested in this job. And the fact that they've appointed Carsley as an interim coach and the fact Pep's contract ends at the end of the season... however, I'm maybe having a little bit of wishful thinking here!”

Fellow ex-Three Lions frontman Alan Shearer added: “There are a few people or a couple of people that have actually said that to me, but I don't know, maybe it's just a rumour, but hey, you never know, which is why I think it's a wise decision for them to give it to Carsley and just take their time and see what happens. I mean, they've got a game in a month's time, less? So I think it would have been really difficult to appoint someone in that short amount of time. So this gives them time to sit back and see and look at the bigger picture.”

England will be back in action on September 7 when facing the Republic of Ireland in Nations League Group B. Carsley is going to be at the helm for that contest, as well as a meeting with Finland. The Three Lions have six Nations League games to take in before the end of the calendar year.