England Managers

One of the pinnacles of management, at least as far as England’s supporters are concerned, is to become the boss of the Three Lions. There have been more than a few people who have been bestowed with this honour over the years, with varying degrees of success.

Some, such as Sam Allardyce, were in charge of the England men’s team for such a short period as to make their presence in the dugout almost negligible. Others, like Sir Alf Ramsey, went down in history thanks to their success when it came to winning trophies. This page will take a closer look at all of them, excluding any caretaker managers.

Taking a Closer Look

Each of the England managers has a story to tell, even if some of the stories are a touch shorter than the others. Here is a closer look at the various people who have been in charge of the Three Lions since the start of the management era.

Thomas Tuchel

The manager with the shortest amount of information to tell you is the one that was most recently given the role. Thomas Tuchel had previously enjoyed club management with FC Augsburg II, Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich before being appointed the first German manager of England in 2025. He won his first match in charge, having once been a defender himself with Stuttgart Kickers and SSV Ulm.

Sir Gareth Southgate

Sir Gareth Southgate was a well-known player to England supporters of a certain age, thanks to his missed penalty that saw the Three Lions crash out of the European Championship in 1996 when he missed his penalty in a shootout against Germany. Having played for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, Southgate went into management with the latter side in 2006 before becoming the England Under-21s head coach in 2013. After performing well in that role for three years, he was given the main role with England’s first-team in 2016 when Sam Allardyce resigned.

Southgate was taken to the hearts of the England supporters, thanks in no small part to the waistcoat that he wore on the sidelines. They made it to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, losing 2-1 to Croatia in extra-time. The Three Lions made it to their first Euros final in 2020, losing to Italy on penalties. In the World Cup of 2022, played in Qatar during the winter, they lost 2-1 to France in the quarter-finals. Another European Championship final was to come, however, but it also resulted in another 2-1 loss, this time thanks to a later winner from Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal.

Sam Allardyce

Perhaps the most embarrassing period for England management came when Sam Allardyce was made Roy Hodgson’s replacement in 2016. Having enjoyed a long and storied career with clubs such as Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Sunderland, ‘Big Sam’ was appointed to the manager’s role on the 22nd of July 2016. He won his only game in charge, then left the role by mutual consent after being caught in a newspaper sting offering advice on how to ‘get around’ rules on player transfers.

Roy Hodgson

If you want an example of how a mediocre manager can be put in charge of England as long as they have friends in the press, you need look no further than Roy Hodgson. Having endured a playing career the highlight of which was 59 league games for Gravesend & Northfleet, Hodgson became the managerial equivalent of a journeyman. He took charge of 18 different football clubs before being handed the Three Lions’ hot seat, which came after a dreadful spell in charge of Liverpool. His appointment came after the resignation of his predecessor, Fabio Capello.

He didn’t select former England captain Rio Ferdinand for Euro 2012, with most people believing that was because of Ferdinand’s brother being racially abused by John Terry. England drew 0-0 with Italy in the quarter-finals, losing 4-2 on penalties. At the 2014 World Cup, England failed to make it out of the group stage of the competition for the first time since 1958, earning just one point. Hodgson somehow remained in charge for Euro 2016, being knocked out by Iceland in the round of 16.

Fabio Capello

Few managers in world football commanded the respect that Fabio Capello did when he was appointed England manager, with the Italian having been a player himself for SPAL, Roma, Juventus and AC Milan in his native home. He had taken charge of Roma, Juventus and AC Milan as well as Real Madrid as a manager, winning countless league titles as well as the 1993-1994 Champions League. That was enough to earn him the role as just the second non-English manager of the Three Lions, being appointed to the role in 2007.

At the 2010 World Cup, England made it to the round of 16 but were beaten 4-1 by Germany, with Capello’s tactics and ‘military regime’ during the training camp criticised. In spite of the fact that he helped the Three Lions to qualify for the 2012 European Championship, Capello resigned on the eighth of February 2012 when the Football Association chose to take the captaincy off John Terry in the wake of the Chelsea defender’s racist abuse of Anton Ferdinand.

Steve McClaren

Having played for teams such as Hull City, Derby County and Bristol City, Steve McClaren became a coach with Oxford United before replacing Brian Kidd as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United. He then became Middlesbrough manager in 2001, winning their first major trophy when they enjoyed League Cup success in 2004 and then ending as UEFA Cup runners-up two years later. In the August of 2006, McClaren was given the role of England manager on the back of his exploits with the Boro, but was dismissed a year later after failing to qualify for Euro 2008.

Sven-Göran Eriksson

Perhaps no England manager has enjoyed the same sort of cult following as Sven-Göran Eriksson was given during his time in charge of the Three Lions. The Swedish national had managed the likes of Benfica, Roma and Fiorentina prior to being appointed manager of England in 2001, becoming the first non-English person to be given the role. His debut saw the side win 3-0 against Spain at Villa Park, but his first major tournament ended in disappointment when England lost 2-1 to eventual winners Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup.

Things were better at Euro 2004, in spite of the fact that the players were booed off the pitch after a friendly loss to Australia in the February of 2003. They made it to the quarter-finals, but lost to the hosts, Portugal, on penalties after Michael Owen had given England the lead early on. The 2006 World Cup resulted in the third quarter-final defeat of Eriksson’s reign, once again losing to Portugal on penalties. He was rated as England’s second-most successful manager, but left the role in 2006. He died of pancreatic cancer on the 26th of August 2024, aged 76.

Kevin Keegan

Kevin Keegan won everything there was to win as a player with Liverpool, moving to Hamburger SV in 1977 and then playing for Southampton, Newcastle United and Blacktown City before retiring in 1985. He had also been a much-loved England player, going into management with the Magpies in 1992. Having made them a thrillingly exciting team to watch, they missed out on the title to Manchester United after Keegan’s famous ‘I would love it if we beat them’ rant on Sky Sports. Having also been in charge of Fulham for a period, he was made England manager in 1999.

Whilst there was an obvious hope that he would be able to bring his attacking style of play to the Three Lions when he replaced Glenn Hoddle, his time in charge ultimately ended in failure. He did manage to get the national side into Euro 2000, but his perceived naivety, which was displayed when England lost 3-2 to Portugal in their first game at the tournament, caused his downfall. Although he masterminded England’s first competitive win over Germany since 1966, he resigned in the October of 2000 after the same opposition won in the first 2002 World Cup qualifier.

Glenn Hoddle

There aren’t many people who can be considered something of a club hero at two different London-based sides, but Glenn Hoddle is remembered fondly by both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea after his playing career with both. He managed the latter between 1993 and 1996, after having previously been in charge of Swindon Town, which was enough to earn him the England job in 1996. Hoddle had been a Three Lions player, which helped him to win over supporters initially, helping the national side to qualify for the 1998 World Cup.

At the tournament itself, things didn’t go as well as he would’ve hoped. Having courted controversy by leaving Paul Gascoigne out of the squad, he then appointed faith healer Eileen Drewery to his backroom staff. England made it to the second group stage, but a defeat to Argentina saw them knocked out on penalties. When Hoddle gave an interview saying that disabled people, amongst others, were being punished for sins in a former life, he was relieved of his position having refused to resign.

Terry Venables

For England supporters of a certain vintage, Terry Venables’ time in charge of the national side was one of the most exciting for a generation. Having made his way around London as a player, running out for Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace, he became the manager of the latter in 1976. In 1980 he moved to QPR, then became known as ‘El Tel’ when he took over as Barcelona manager. A four-year spell with Spurs followed, which was enough for the Football Association to be convinced he should be made England boss.

Venables was only in charge of the Three Lions for one tournament, which was Euro ’96 when England were the host nation. A group game draw with Switzerland was followed by a 2-0 win over Scotland and a 4-1 demolition of the Netherlands, which saw them end the group stage as winners. A penalty shootout victory over Spain in the quarter-finals set up a semi-final tie with the ‘old Enemy’ in Germany, which the Germans won when future manager Gareth Southgate missed his penalty in the shootout.

Graham Taylor

Few England managers become a meme before the term was even invented, but Graham Taylor pulled it off. Anyone of a certain age would immediately understand the phrase ‘do I not like that’ as being representative of the Worksop-born full-back, who played for Grimsby Town and Lincoln City before becoming the latter’s manager. Success with Watford and Aston Villa saw him become England manager in 1990, in spite of never having played in the top-flight. The Three Lions only lost one of his first 23 games, however, offering hope for possible success.

When England lost to Sweden in the 1992 Euros, the press labelled him a ‘Turnip’. The qualification period for the 1994 World Cup didn’t go much better, failing to make it to the tournament, which was held in the United States of America. Taylor resigned on the 23rd of November 1993.

Sir Bobby Robson

One of the most beloved of England managers, Sir Bobby Robson played for Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and the Vancouver Royal Canadians during his career, the latter being as player-manager. He made his managerial name during a 13-year spell with Ipswich Town, the success of whom saw the FA give him the England job in 1982. When England failed to qualify for the 1984 European Championship, Robson offered to resign in order for Brian Clough to replace him. The FA turned down his resignation offer and he led England to the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.

It was during that World Cup that the Three Lions were knocked out at the quarter-final stage thanks to the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal scored by Diego Maradona. They made it to Euro 1988, but were eliminated at the group stage. The press once again wanted him to resign after a draw in a friendly with Saudi Arabia, but the Football Association stopped him again. They made it to the World Cup in 1990, progressing to a semi-final with West Germany. England lost that on penalties, seeing the famous image of Paul Gascoigne crying after being booked to miss the final.

Ron Greenwood

Ron Greenwood played for Bradford Park Avenue, Brentford, Chelsea and Fulham before being appointed as the West Ham United manager in 1961. After more than a decade with the Hammers, Greenwood was given the England job in 1977, having won the FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup at West Ham. He initially went in as caretaker manager, failing to get England to the World Cup in 1978, taking full-time charge and qualifying for Euro 1980. They failed to make it out of the group, also only making it to the second group stage of the World Cup in 1982.

Don Revie

It was never going to be easy to succeed the manager who won the World Cup with England, but Don Revie took on the role after his success with Leeds United, where he’d also been a player. He was appointed as Three Lions manager in 1974, failing to make the European Championship in 1976. They also failed to make the World Cup in 1978, with Revie being suspended from football by the FA when he gave a newspaper interview in which he said he was quitting as England manager so as to become the manager of the United Arab Emirates.

Sir Alf Ramsey

There is perhaps no clearer example of England’s underperformance on the pitch than the fact that the only manager between the first one employed by the country and the appointment of German Thomas Tuchel to win a trophy did so just 21 years after the end of the Second World War. Sir Alf Ramsey played for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur during his playing career, being given the manager’s job at Ipswich Town in 1955. He helped get the Tractor Boys out of the third tier of English football and into the First Division, becoming champions of England in 1962.

That was enough to see him named England manager, which came about the following year. England were due to host the World Cup in 1966, which Ramsey declared to the press that they would win. He demanded complete control over squad selection, which had never happened before, but it paid dividends. Having made it through the group stage, they faced Argentina in the first knockout round and won 1-0, defeating Portugal 2-1 in the semi-final. Then came the ‘old enemy’ in West Germany in the final, where England won 4-2 after extra-time.

Sir Walter Winterbottom

The first ever England manager was Sir Walter Winterbottom, even though he had no professional experience before being given the job. During his time in charge, the Three Lions lost just six matches in 16 years as the home team, winning eight Home Championships outright and sharing the win of another six. The Euros weren’t a thing during Winterbottom’s initial reign, but he took the national side to four consecutive World Cups. They were eliminated from the first at the group stage, lost to Uruguay in the quarter-finals of 1952, losing in the group stage four years later and in the quarter-finals in 1962.