Jamie Carragher discounts Nottingham Forest man from international role but he’s wrong

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Jamie Carragher has appeared to discount Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper from ever taking the England role. The Sky Sports pundit has taken to Twitter to have his say on what criteria any new Three Lions boss should meet.

Gareth Southgate has seen his future thrown into question after Saturday. England were dumped out of the World Cup by France, with Harry Kane missing a late penalty to seal the nation’s fate.

After failing to get England over the line, Southgate must now carry the can. It seems unthinkable that he will carry on with the national team and it’s perhaps time for someone else to have a go.

Cooper is high on the list of potential replacements should Southgate leave. He is held in high regard by the Football Association after his work in winning the World Cup with the under-17s in 2017.

The Forest incumbent is, of course, Welsh. However, his work was distinguished with the England national team at youth level and after cutting his teeth at club level, he may foray onto the international stage in the future.

Carragher wouldn’t endorse the move though. He’s taken to Twitter to suggest that the next man up should be English and he’s not a huge fan of the Football Association remotely considering appointing a foreign coach again.

Carragher discounts Cooper from England role

The fact that it never really worked out for Fabio Capello or Sven-Goran Eriksson shouldn’t deter England from appointing a foreign coach again.

In fact, the last two England coaches to win silverware were both foreign. Cooper won the World Cup with the under-17s, whilst Sabrina Weigman lifted the European Championships with the women’s team.

Carragher has a nice dream. International football does work nicely when a compatriot takes charge of the country which he’s from. But it’s not a defining factor.

Ultimately, sport is about winning. If Southgate does depart, the next man up should be the person with the best credentials to finally deliver a trophy to the nation.

If that is the proud Welshman Cooper or another foreign coach, it really shouldn’t matter. England have a golden generation of talent and they need the best coach possible to help them realise their potential.