Gary Lineker has urged England to go ‘all out’ to try and hire former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp should Gareth Southgate step down as Three Lions manager.
Southgate will face intense speculation about his future following England’s heartbreaking 2-1 defeat in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday.
The 53-year-old has led England into four major tournaments but has now fallen at the final hurdle on two occasions, becoming the first nation in Euros history to do so.
Southgate said he would not rush into any decision over his future in the immediate aftermath of the defeat but is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks with his contract set to expire in December.
But Lineker believes the time is now for England to make a change and wants the Football Association (FA) to make Klopp their number-one priority.
‘I think he’s been the right person to bring the nation together in terms of the football team,’ the former England striker said on the Rest is Football podcast.
‘And, now, maybe it’s time for someone else with a more modern, attacking style of football. Because I think the game’s gone away from being successful if you’re really defensive.
‘If you English, we mentioned, somebody maybe like [Frank] Lampard, who would get respect. But wouldn’t you go all out for Jurgen Klopp?’
Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season and said he would take a year out from management after a gruelling nine-year spell at Anfield.
Next England manager odds
Graham Potter, Evens
Eddie Howe, 5/2
Mauricio Pochettino, 4/1
Jurgen Klopp 10/1
Lee Carsley 12/1
Odds via SkyBet
Lineker’s podcast co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, meanwhile, put forward their preferred candidates for the job.
‘I’m for England and English managers,’ Shearer said. ‘[Eddie] Howe would be the outstanding candidate. There’s a lot going on at Newcastle. The guys who appointed Eddie have now left.’
‘I’d go one bigger, Pep [Guardiola]!’ Richards said.
‘We’d all love Pep,’ Lineker responded. ‘But Klopp is out of a job and would have had a bit of a rest. Club managers are paid an awful lot of money, I can’t see the FA stumping up that sort of cash.’