Frank Lampard to become England manager is backed by Gary Lineker after BBC comments

Gary Lineker believes Frank Lampard has what it takes to be England manager despite his struggles in the Premier League. The Football Association is on the lookout amid speculation Gareth Southgate is set to step down as England chief, with the odds on a Lampard appointment falling of late.

Match of the Day presenter Lineker expressed his appreciation of Lampard’s nous after the former Chelsea, Everton and Derby County boss appeared on the BBC’s coverage of England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final win. He joined fellow ex-Premier League stars Rio Ferdinand and Micah Richards on punditry duties as the Three Lions beat Switzerland on penalties to tee up a semi-final showdown against the Netherlands.

And Lineker – who recently referred to Southgate as “tactically inept” – insisted Lampard shouldn’t be disregarded in the succession after he assured the incumbent will “absolutely bow out” after Euro 2024. The Chelsea legend has won only 41% of his games in charge of top-flight clubs, but his insights on the BBC couch were enough to convince Lineker he could have what it takes.

“I wouldn’t disregard Frank Lampard. I think he tactically gets it,” said the former England striker on his The Rest is Football podcast. “I think the players will respect him immediately. I’m getting ahead of things here. If you’re going to go English, you go, like, who else? (Newcastle manager) Eddie Howe? Eddie Howe, possibly?”

Graham Potter is the current favourite to take over as England chief should Southgate step aside. The former Brighton and Chelsea coach has been praised for his tactical influence, while his candidacty is simplified by the fact he’s currently a free agent.

There’s plenty of cause to doubt Lampard’s selection given each of his tenures at Chelsea and Everton ended in sour fashion. However, Lineker added: “I think he’s been a bit unlucky in his managerial career in some ways. I think he gets it tactically.”

England could do with some aid in the tactical department, particularly if Lineker holds true to his recent jibe regarding Southgate’s supposed inadequacies in that department. England will face the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals on Wednesday but are yet to score more than once in any of their games at the tournament thus far.

Speaking on Lampard’s analysis during England’s quarter-final win ex-Manchester City defender Richards said: “Frank’s analysis was about three minutes. And, normally, if someone goes that deep, after maybe two minutes, you’ve lost interest. But I was glued to it for three minutes. And you can tell he’s just got something. He’s articulate. The way he explains points. You can tell there’s a manager there inside of him.”

Lineker continued that line of adulation and hailed the segment, saying: “That three minutes Frank did was amazing.” However, many fans may rely more so on results as a manager to date for their own preferred England candidates.

Richards found positives in each of Lampard’s coaching deployments to date, praising his style at Derby, then keeping Chelsea competitive during their transfer ban and saving Everton from relegation. However, he suggested the Stamford Bridge icon is perhaps judged unfairly for his interim return to the Chelsea helm, where he won once in 11 games.

But despite encouraging starts with both those teams, Lampard has also displayed a pattern of parting ways with the clubs in bad situations. Chelsea were ninth in the Premier League standings when he left the first time, while his relegation escape at Everton was followed by a miserable campaign, departing with the Toffees sat 19th.

Southgate is yet to make any exit official, nor has he even gone into detail regarding his plans after Euro 2024, with his contract set to expire at the end of this year. However, it will be a tall order for any heir replacing the team’s manager of eight years, who has defied the odds to go down as England’s most successful coach of the modern era.