Lee Carsley could leave his role with the under-21s boss this summer - and that could open the door for one of England’s golden generation into the coaching set-up.
Carsley could be tempted back into club management after the under-21s European Championships after two years in the job. The Football Association could then sound out potential candidates like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker.
They have all had mixed fortunes in club management but there is a willingness and determination to get them into the England set-up, having come through the set-up and had great playing careers. England boss Gareth Southgate followed a similar path and that has worked out well for him.
Former Brentford coach Carsley, 49, has been in charge of the Three Lions' youngsters for almost two years after succeeding Aidy Boothroyd back in July 2021. The ex-Everton midfielder, who had a previous stint as the Bees' caretaker manager and has also held non-playing roles with Birmingham and the Manchester City academy, has earned plenty of plaudits since taking up the job.
Gerrard and Lampard are both currently out of work, as is Parker, who was recently sacked by Club Brugge after winning just two of his 12 games at the helm. All three could be in the mix for a role which could eventually be a path to the senior England job.
The FA are mulling over a succession plan for current England manager Gareth Southgate, whose current contract with the governing body expires after the European Championships in the summer of 2024.
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Southgate, who had a spell in charge of the Under-21s before stepping up to replace Sam Allardyce, came close to quitting after England exited the World Cup in the quarter-finals in Qatar but was persuaded to stay on.
However, the FA are aware of the need to make arrangements for when the 52-year-old does eventually depart - and grooming one of the nation's up and coming young coaches is within the organisation is high on their agenda.
Lampard has been out of work since he was sacked by Everton in January, while Gerrard was axed by Aston Villa back in October. The latter has recently been linked with a return to management abroad, with reports claiming that Turkish outfit Trabzonspor are interested in the services of the Liverpool icon.
Carsley is expected to lead England in the Under-21 European Championships in the summer before making a decision over his future. The Three Lions have been drawn alongside Germany, Czech Republic and Israel in Group C of the tournament.
