Ange Postecoglou, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, has dismissed rumors linking him to the England national team job. Following Gareth Southgate’s departure, Postecoglou is reportedly one of the names in contention for the role. However, he made it clear that his focus is entirely on bringing success to Spurs. After his team’s 5-1 friendly win over Hearts, Postecoglou said, “I’m Tottenham manager and I’m determined to bring success to this club, as I have with every other club I have been at. That’s where my focus is totally.” He emphasized that until he achieves something with Tottenham, his work is not done.
When asked if he would be interested in the England job in the future, Postecoglou replied, “It’s not something that enters my headspace. I’m Tottenham manager and I’m determined to bring success to this club. Nothing else is on my radar except for that.” His commitment to Tottenham suggests that he is fully invested in the club and does not have any immediate plans to leave.
Eddie Howe is currently the favorite to succeed Southgate as England manager. However, there is a debate about whether the next England manager should be English or not. Dave Kidd argues that while there is a natural preference for an English successor, the FA should be ambitious and consider the best person for the job regardless of nationality. He believes that England needs a manager who can gain instant respect from players, be tactically bold, and handle potential issues within the squad.
In the past, when the FA appointed foreign managers like Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, it did not work out well due to their lack of knowledge and understanding of English football. However, there are now several overseas managers with significant Premier League experience who could be considered for the role, including Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti, and Thomas Tuchel. This wealth of talent indicates that there are viable options outside of England.
While Postecoglou joked that he is in the “top 100” of potential candidates for the England job, he praised Southgate for the job he did and acknowledged that sometimes a manager’s future is taken out of their hands. He believes that Southgate made the best decision for himself and acknowledged his achievements in terms of results and performances at major tournaments.
Overall, it seems that Postecoglou is fully committed to Tottenham and has no interest in the England job at this time. The debate about whether the next England manager should be English or not continues, with arguments for considering the best person for the job regardless of nationality. The FA will have to carefully weigh their options and choose a manager who can lead England to further success.