Former England captain Wayne Rooney has expressed his support for Lee Carsley’s appointment as interim head coach of the national team, but still believes that Pep Guardiola should be the Football Association’s top target for the long-term role, Soccernet.football reports.
The Football Association confirmed on Friday that Lee Carsley, the current England Under-21 coach, will take charge of the senior team on an interim basis for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures in September.
England are set to face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 7 September, followed by a home game against Finland at Wembley three days later.
Rooney, now managing Plymouth Argyle, commended Carsley’s appointment, acknowledging his former Everton teammate’s impressive work with the Under-21 squad.
“Lee deserves this opportunity,” Rooney told Sky Sports via BeinSports. “We played together at Everton, and he’s proven himself as a great coach, following a pathway similar to Gareth Southgate’s.”
However, Rooney still holds the view that Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, should be the FA’s priority target for the permanent position when his contract expires in 2025.
“I’d love to see Pep in charge,” Rooney added. “England should aim for the best, and the way he gets his teams playing would be incredible for the national team.”
The FA has indicated that their search for a permanent successor to Gareth Southgate will be thorough, with potential candidates including Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, and Eddie Howe.
Meanwhile, Carsley’s interim role could extend beyond September if the FA decides to wait for Guardiola’s availability.
England’s full schedule for the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League includes matches against the Republic of Ireland, Finland, Greece, and the Republic of Ireland again in November.