Lee Carsley ready to reject club management offers in hope of getting full-time England job after Thomas Tuchel
LEE CARSLEY is happy to sit and wait for Thomas Tuchel to move on as England coach.
Carsley is back with the under-21s after his caretaker spell with the Three Lions in the Nations League.
However, the long-serving FA coach is willing to sit it out back with the next generation of talent where he made his name.
But the shrewd Carsley could then be the automatic candidate once Tuchel has had a go at winning the World Cup in 2026.
Carsley, 50, will be a target for other jobs and a first full crack at club football.
But it would take an unbelievable offer to attract him.
Pals of Carsley say he is happy in the international environment and would be better placed if England come back for him in summer 2026.
Carsley won five of his six games in charge of the Three Lions, all of which were Uefa Nations League matches.
He also handed England debuts to eight stars.
These were Morgan Gibbs-White, Angel Gomes, Noni Madueke, Curtis Jones, Lewis Hall, Morgan Rogers, Tino Livramento and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
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Despite his links to the job, Carsley claimed he did not apply for the job this time around.
Speaking about the England job, Carsley said: “It makes me laugh that everyone’s got an opinion on the team.
“I’m on the road a lot, so service stations is where I seem to get the most advice.
“Some of it is good, some of it is not so good. I seem to meet a lot of West Ham fans, very Jarrod-heavy.
“It’s mainly team selection . . . I was in a queue in a Starbucks and a fella was talking about the false nine and the tactics, after the Greece game. I just wanted a soy latte!”
Carsley will finally sit down with Tuchel, who starts work in January, after he completes his six-game Nations League assignment on Sunday against the Republic of Ireland.
He said: “I am not sure I will give Thomas a lot of advice.
“He is in a better position than I am in terms of the experience he has had and the staff he has.
“It will probably be more about the players, the personalities and the stuff you won’t see on the TV.
“I’m putting together a lot of thoughts, as are the rest of the staff.
“I fully expect to catch up with him after the camp, and hopefully we can hand the team over in a good position.”