Thomas Tuchel is expected to continue as England manager following a painful World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, but bookmakers have already marked Eddie Howe and Pep Guardiola as the early frontrunners to be the next permanent holder of the job.
Howe, currently in charge at Newcastle United, and Guardiola, who left Manchester City at the end of the 2025/26 season, now sit atop the market to become the next Three Lions boss, according to odds released in the wake of England's 3-1 loss in Atlanta.
The Football Association has publicly backed Tuchel, with chief executive Mark Bullingham reiterating that the German remains the right man to lead the team through the 2028 European Championship on home soil. Despite the disappointing end to a campaign that had seen England top their group and knock out Brazil in the quarter-finals, the FA's stance has not shifted.
"Thomas has our full support. He has built a strong platform and we believe in the path we are on," a source close to the FA told FourFourTwo.
Nevertheless, the betting markets rarely miss an opportunity to speculate. Howe’s work in transforming Newcastle into consistent top-four challengers has long attracted admirers at St George’s Park, while Guardiola’s availability after departing the Etihad makes for an intriguing, if ambitious, option. Both men are also on the radar of elite clubs across Europe, ensuring any future vacancy would trigger a fierce tug of war.
For now, Tuchel’s job appears safe. But as the dust settles on another near miss, the bookmakers have made their move.
