Carlo Ancelotti may be the answer to getting the best out of Jude Bellingham in an England shirt.
Just two days after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain, it has been announced that Gareth Southgate has left his role as national manager.
He departs the Three Lions after almost eight years in charge, leading his country to two Euros finals and a World Cup semi-final.
The FA will now be working on appointing his successor but talkSPORT host Adrian Durham believes the easy answer is give to Real Madrid boss Ancelotti.
When speaking on White and Jordan after Southgate’s departure was confirmed, he said: “I was presenting [Kick Off on talkSPORT] last night when we were reviewing the tournament and I just mentioned about Ancelotti’s relationship with Jude Bellingham.
“And it felt like that’s the answer, suddenly it clicked in my head. To get the very best out of our very best player Jude Bellingham, do you not have an elite coach?
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“I think Jude, he’s got some attitude about him which I really love, he is the best player we’ve got and the best player we’ve produced in a long, long time. He demands standards because he has those standards at Real Madrid and they’re winners.
“So why don’t we look at that and think, ‘Hang on a minute, should we set those kind of standards that Jude Bellingham expects?’ And therefore that will raise everybody around him, all the players, all staff around him, and do we appoint somebody like Carlo Ancelotti
“The fact that he’s worked at Chelsea and Everton tells me that there’s a little bit of English in him anyway, so that will do me.”
Bellingham, one of England’s best talents, scored two goals at Euro 2024 off the back of an excellent season at Madrid under Ancelotti.
He netted 23 goals and assisted 13 others across all competitions, with LaLiga, Champions League and Spanish Super Cup success coming their way.
Ancelotti has international experience having been assistant manager for the Italy national team between 1992 and 1995. However, his club success is what stands him out, proving himself a winner at clubs including Madrid, Chelsea and AC Milan.
Carlo Ancelotti’s managerial success
Juventus [1999-2001] – UEFA Intertoto Cup
AC Milan [2001-2009] – Serie A, Champions League x2, UEFA Super Cup x2, FIFA Club World Cup, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana
Chelsea [2009-2011] – Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield
Paris Saint-Germain [2011-2013] – Ligue 1
Bayern Munich [2016-2017] – Bundesliga, DFL-Supercup x2
Real Madrid [2013-2015 and 2021-present] – LaLiga x2, Champions League x3, UEFA Super Cup x2, FIFA Club World Cup x2, Copa del Rey x2, Supercopa de Espana x2
He has won the Champions League five times as a coach and collected league titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues.
England U21s boss Lee Carsley is among the other candidates to replace Southgate after winning the U21 Euros last summer.
So is Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, with former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter also in the running.
talkSPORT understands Newcastle boss Howe would consider the job if approached.
Speaking on the next steps to hire a new England manager, FA CEO Mark Bullingham said: “The process for appointing Gareth’s successor is now under way and we aim to have our new manager confirmed as soon as possible.
“Our UEFA Nations League campaign starts in September, and we have an interim solution in place if it is needed.
“We know there will be inevitable speculation, but we won’t be commenting further on our process until we appoint.”
If it isn’t England next for Ancelotti then he will oversee a dynamic looking Real side next season. Days after Spain’s players celebrated in Madrid, the LaLiga champions unveiled Kylian Mbappe as their new signing.
With the striker, plus Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Endrick and Rodrygo among others, the club have a side destined to dominate for years.
Gareth Southgate timeline
Gareth Southgate’s Key Moments
27 September 2016 – Southgate was placed in temporary charge following Sam Allardyce’s departure. The England Under-21s manager was initially put in charge for four games.
8 October 2016 – Southgate enjoyed victory in his first game in charge as England beat Malta 2-0 at Wembley with goals from Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli.
30 November 2016 – Southgate signed a four-year deal to become England’s permanent manager.
5 October 2017 – England booked their place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 1-0 win over Slovenia.
3 July 2018 – England beat Colombia in a shoot-out to progress to the quarter-finals.
11 July 2018 – 2-1 extra-time defeat to Croatia in the World Cup semi-final.
28 December 2018 – Southgate was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours list for services to football.
22 June 2021 – England topped their group in Euro 2020 after a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic.
29 June 2021 – Southgate became the first England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey in the 1966 World Cup final to lead his country to victory over Germany in a knockout match with a 2-0 success in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
11 July 2021 – England suffer more heartbreak as they lose the Euro 2020 final and Wembley showpiece to Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
22 November 2021 – Southgate earns a new contract which will run until Euro 2024.
14 June 2022 – England endured a dismal Nations League campaign, which included a 4-0 hammering by Hungary at Molineux – the worst home defeat since 1928.
10 December 2022 – England eased through to the quarter-finals in Qatar before being beaten 2-1 by defending champions France, but the performance of Southgate’s side attracted praise.
18 December 2022 – The FA announced Southgate would stay on to lead England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
18th October 2023 – England qualify for Euro 2024 with a 3-1 win over Italy.
14th July 2024 – England suffer another heartbreak as they lose the Euro 2024 final 2-1 to Spain.
16th July 2024 – The FA announce Southgate has left his role as England manager following England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
News Summary:
- FA told elite Carlo Ancelotti should replace Gareth Southgate to get the best out of Jude Bellingham
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