“Eddie Howe and Graham Potter never played for their country” - Paul Merson makes bold claim on who should replace Gareth Southgate as England manager

Arsenal and England forward Paul Merson claimed that Chelsea legend Frank Lampard should replace Gareth Southgate as the head coach of the English national team. The 56-year-old stated that the Blues icon has the edge over other candidates because he has 'lived international football' and declared that he 'ticks every box'.

Since Southgate announced his decision to step down from the national team role (July 16), multiple names have been floated as replacements. The likes of Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, and Lampard have been linked with the coveted job.

In his first-ever senior coaching stint, Lampard led Derby County to the 2018-19 EFL Championship play-off final, which they lost to Leeds United. For the impressive run, he was hired by his former club Chelsea ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

He endured an up-and-down run at Stamford Bridge, but a poor run of two wins in eight Premier League games got him sacked in January 2021. He took over the charge of Everton in January 2022, but was fired 12 months later for winning just 12 out of 44 games.

He oversaw another abysmal two-month spell as caretaker manager at Chelsea and has been out of a job since May 2023. Despite his poor track record, Merson backed the 46-year-old as the ideal candidate to succeed Southgate.

In conversation with presenter Jeff Stelling on the Football's Greatest YouTube channel, Merson said:

“I like Frank Lampard. The big advantage that Gareth had [was that] he played at tournaments [with England]. He lived international football and that's a big advantage. Frank has been deep into tournaments [as a player with England], he was part of teams that were really fancied and failed miserably. That's a big experience. I like that shout [for him to become the next England boss]."

"He ticks every box. Eddie Howe and Graham Potter never played for their country so it's hard [for them] to sit there and say to someone you've got to be feeling like this [ahead of a big game]. So I'd go Frank Lampard," Merson concluded.

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"He tactically gets it" - Gary Lineker echoes Paul Merson's call for Frank Lampard to become new England manager

Former England forward Gary Lineker echoed pundit Paul Merson's sentiments, backing former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard to become the Three Lions' head coach.

England manager Gareth Southgate stepped down from his role, just two days after his side's heart-breaking 1-2 loss to Spain in the EURO 2024 final (July 14). The Three Lions have already begun their search for a new head coach, with Lampard being one of the names on their wishlist.

Speaking to former Manchester City full-back Micah Richards on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said:

"I think he’s been a bit unlucky in his managerial career in some ways... I wouldn’t disregard Frank Lampard. I think he tactically gets it. I think the players will respect him immediately. I’m getting ahead of things here... but if you’re going to go English, you go… who else?"

The Football Association is yet to decide on Southgate's successor and it will be interesting to see whom they choose, as England will look to win the FIFA World Cup 2026.