The FA must not consider Jose Mourinho as Gareth Southgate’s replacement if he leaves his post after Euro 2024, according to former England international Ian Storey-Moore. With Southgate potentially entering his final international tournament as manager next summer, speculation regarding his successor is rife.
Euro 2024 in Germany will be the fourth major tournament of the 53-year-old’s term, having guided England into the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and Euro 2020.
The Three Lions have enjoyed more highs than lows under Southgate, reaching a semi-final and final with one of the nation’s brightest-ever talent pools.
But it surprised many when it emerged that he was staying put after England’s quarter-final World Cup elimination in Qatar last year.
And according to the Mail, FA chiefs are well aware of the likelihood that Southgate will walk away from the job after Euro 2024.
The September report claimed Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola had all been considered in case Southgate stepped down after the World Cup.
Current AS Roma boss Mourinho is another high-profile name who has been linked with a future Three Lions managerial role.
However, Storey-Moore, who earned one cap against the Netherlands in 1970 before a career-altering injury, doesn’t want the FA to consider the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur coach.
“Absolutely not. Jose’s had his time. I’m not saying he’s not been a wonderful coach, but I think he’s past his sell-by date. Absolutely not,” Storey-Moore told Express Sport.
The 78-year-old, who shared a dressing room with the late great Sir Bobby Charlton at Manchester United, wants England to stick with a leader born in the country.
He added: “People like Eddie Howe should come into contention. A young manager, an excellent coach by all means, and I would think someone of his stature would be a good choice.
“I would like to see an English manager rather than someone from abroad. No disrespect to them, there are some excellent foreign managers, but England is England.”
Storey-Moore, who was set to feature at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany before injury struck, is optimistic about England’s chances of going one step further next summer after Euro 2020’s final penalty heartbreak.
“I’m sure they’ll do reasonably well again. They’ve certainly got a really decent group of talented players,” Storey-Moore explained.
“Gareth Southgate has done a terrific job with the England setup, so I don’t see why they shouldn’t do well out there. I think they’ve got as big a chance as any other country to win it.”
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