With the summer transfer window approaching, Newcastle United's search for a new shot-stopper has continued, with an agreement now reportedly reached to land Eddie Howe's preferred choice.
Newcastle transfer news
With Martin Dubravka 35 years old and Nick Pope 32 years old, it's no surprise that Newcastle have turned their attention to signing a future number one for Howe's side. Pope's injury adds a sense of unpredictability when it comes to his form upon his return too, making a new goalkeeper even more important this summer.
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Ruthless from PIF…
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In that regard, it seemed as though Newcastle's first choice was Valencia's Giorgi Mamardashvili, with reports suggesting that PIF had overruled Howe to target the 23-year-old, who has impressed in La Liga. Fresh updates even indicated that the Magpies were in pole position to secure his signature. It now seems as though those at St James' Park have opted to listen to Howe's preference, however, and turn their attention elsewhere.
Valencia stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili
According to Sky Sports' James Green via AFCstuff on X, Newcastle have reached an agreement with Aaron Ramsdale over joining the club this summer, who is Howe's preferred choice.
The Arsenal number two is in desperate need of consistent game time after losing his place to David Raya in the current campaign and now, Newcastle have seemingly offered him the chance to get exactly that in a contract that could match his current reported salary of £120k-a-week.
If an agreement is reached with Ramsdale, Newcastle will now need to turn their attention to finding the right price with Arsenal to secure a summer switch for the England international.
"Exceptional" Ramsdale can succeed Pope
Competition is key for any squad vying for a place in the Premier League's top six and having both Pope and Ramsdale to choose from would be the healthiest form of that for Howe. That said, the latter won't be arriving to sit on the bench in a replication of his current Arsenal role. He'll rightly want to be number, which will make Howe's decision an interesting one should the deal take place. Both shot-stoppers certainly have their strong points.
Saves Per 90
1.50
2.81
Pass Accuracy
69.7%
78.7%
Clean Sheets
2
5
Despite losing his place in the current Arsenal side, Ramsdale earned plenty of praise from Mikel Arteta earlier this season. The Spaniard said via TNT Sport: “He’s been exceptional around the place with the situation. Like everybody. We love him more for sure. We have him every day. We know him, we know his character and we are really happy to have him.
“I don’t think I’m the one to answer the question about Aaron Ramsdale’s quality because I’m the one who signed him when everyone else was questioning that decision. So I don’t think I’m the one to answer that question."
After missing out on a place in the Premier League's top four, Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly suffered another frustrating blow, with one player now waiting to hear the extent of his injury by an external medical team.
Tottenham injury news
In many ways, it's fitting that Spurs' season has ended with injury news stealing the headlines. The Lilywhites had their squad depth exposed by consistent absentees throughout the campaign and saw their Champions League hopes crumble as a result.
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They held contact.
ByEmilio Galantini May 18, 2024
The likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie – who is still injured now – all missed parts of the season to leave Ange Postecoglou searching for options at times. Now, the latest injury news sums up a couple of weeks to forget in the fall out of Postecoglou's anger over the build-up and reaction to their defeat against Manchester City.
According to Bild via Sport Witness, Timo Werner has made a "secret" trip to get his injury seen by an external team at parent club RB Leipzig, having been sidelined since the Arsenal game in April.
Those in North London may be hoping that the German also took the chance to bid farewell to the Bundesliga club, with a permanent switch still on the cards this summer amid Spurs' reported €17m (£15m) buy option in their loan deal for Werner.
It would be an ideal way to quickly return the positives to the Lilywhites' camp at the start of an important summer under Postecoglou. Werner has certainly shown enough glimpses of his quality to get a move.
"Exciting" Werner still has more to offer
Whilst it feels unlikely that the Premier League will ever see Werner in full flight, he still has plenty more to offer this current Spurs side, even if he doesn't take the main role leading the line. His work off the ball is something that has shown its value already in his loan spell and Spurs will hope that a permanent move – and one that is without injury issues – results in a return of Werner's goalscoring touch.
Postecoglou was certainly a fan of the loan deal back in January too, telling the official Spurs website: "He's had two sessions with us, he hasn't started a game for ages but I saw today I think he can be really exciting for us once he get to understand our game and gets up to speed with our training.
"You could see there were little moments today, he was always a threat and I think he will enjoy his football here. More importantly today I had no option but to start him. He was a really willing participant in it. He wanted to help. He put his hand up and said whatever I can do, I'll do and it's a credit to him."
The 2023/24 Premier League campaign has been a tricky one for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United side, with injuries plaguing his side for the vast majority of the season.
Bruno Guimaraes has often been the man to rely on in the middle of the park but has often been partnered by numerous different teammates throughout the season due to various injuries and suspensions.
Fellow Brazilian Joelinton has struggled with a thigh issue that ruled him out for numerous months, disrupting his progress alongside his compatriot in the Magpies' midfield.
Sandro Tonali has barely made an impact following his big-money move to Tyneside last summer following a 10-month suspension for breaking betting rules during his time at AC Milan in Italy.
He only featured eight times before his subsequent suspension back in October, with Howe having to rely on young prospects such as Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley to provide numbers in the middle of the park for his side.
However, the upcoming transfer window gives the club the opportunity to strengthen their midfield, with the Magpies still targeting one player who has previously disappointed during his relatively short stint in England’s top-flight.
Newcastle targeting former Arsenal man to bolster their midfield
According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are attempting to hijack Aston Villa's attempts to sign former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi this summer.
Matteo Guendouzi at Lazio
The 25-year-old has played for Lazio in Serie A this season, featuring 46 times, scoring on three occasions from central midfield. However, despite only being on loan at the Italian side during the 2023/24 campaign, the deal included an option to buy, which Lazio decided to take up, but he is expected to leave following a fallout towards the end of the season.
Although Villa remain ahead in the race, with boss Unai Emery wanting to be reunited with his former player, the Magpies have seemingly lodged an enquiry after requesting more information on the Frenchman – as per the report.
It’s been stated that Lazio are holding out for a least €30m (£25m) for his signature, with Howe’s side needing to pursue a move for the former Gunner to allow one Newcastle player to reach the next level and become unstoppable.
Why Guendouzi would allow Guimaraes to become unstoppable
With Newcastle's various issues in midfield, Guimaraes has often had to play in a deeper role than usual to provide cover and allow players such as Sean Longstaff and Anderson to go and create carnage in the final third.
However, despite playing in a deeper position under Howe in 2023/24, the Brazilian managed to achieve a tally of seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League – a fantastic return for a player who has mainly been tasked with defensive duties.
The 26-year-old averages 1.3 shots per 90 and averages 0.4 goals or assists per 90, as per FBref, for the Magpies in the Premier League this season, demonstrating his qualities when in attacking positions.
Games
37
Goals + Assists
15
Goals + Assists per 90
0.4
Shots per 90
1.3
Take-on success
55%
Goals per shot on target
0.4
Guendouzi’s potential arrival could allow the Brazilian to operate in a more advanced position, further bolstering his already impressive stats in the attacking third.
The “monster” Frenchman, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has won 34 tackles and 21 interceptions in Serie A during 2023/24, demonstrating his ability to regain possession for his side.
However, he’s also able to progress the play and play forward upon winning the ball, completing 121 progressive passes at a completion rate of 83% last season.
Finances may be difficult at St James’ Park, but his talent is evident from his statistics from this season, with Newcastle needing to pursue a move for his signature.
Whilst Aston Villa may have the advantage of Champions League football in 2024/25, the project being built by the Saudi PIF is an exciting proposition for the former Arsenal man, in a deal which could be very similar to that of Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle when they were out of any form of European competition.
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The Magpies are still looking to bolster their midfield ahead of next season.
One Arsenal high-earner is in talks over a lucrative move to the Middle East, and is believed to be closing in on a switch to the Saudi Pro League.
Players who could be sold by Arsenal this summer
Joining Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares, who are already confirmed to be leaving Hale End when their contracts expire at the end of this month, a host of Mikel Arteta's squad could follow them out the exit door.
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Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares, who don't appear to feature in Arteta's long-term plans moving forward, spent last season on loan spells at Luton Town and Nottingham Forest respectively – with the former admitting this summer could be his last at the club (via Fabrizio Romano).
Left-back Kieran Tierney was also on a temporary spell at Real Sociedad last campaign, where he managed 27 games in all competitions, but his regular game time in Spain wasn't enough to convince Arsenal to keep him.
Bukayo Saka
7.67
Declan Rice
7.38
Martin Odegaard
7.37
Kai Havertz
7.16
Gabriel Magalhaes
6.99
Reports this week have claimed both Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been told to find new clubs, as Arteta swings the axe and looks to keep evolving his Arsenal squad ahead of another potential title challenge with Man City.
As well as the two left-backs, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale have been named as Arsenal players who could be sold by Arteta this summer – as per various media reports from the last two months.
One of the most high-profile departures expected at Arsenal, though, is midfielder Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian has entered the final 12 months of his contract, with reliable journalists like Fabrizio Romano claiming Partey is set to leave in the next few months.
The £200,000-per-week midfielder has been a faithful servant since signing from Atletico Madrid for £45 million in 2020, but as the Arsenal squad keeps growing, there is no room for Partey – who also suffered from real injury problems last season.
Partey in talks and closing in on move to Saudi Arabia
As per Football Insider this week, there has been an important update on the 30-year-old's future. Indeed, it is now believed Partey is in Arsenal exit talks and closing in on a move to Saudi Arabia, via his representatives who are discussing terms.
The former La Liga star would pen a "huge" contract to swap the Premier League for the Gulf state, and FI's headline states Partey is close to agreeing the lucrative deal.
The north Londoners, if all goes to plan, will use the cash generated through Partey's sale to buy a younger central midfield replacement. Arsenal have apparently set an asking price of between £20-£25 million, which would be good business considering both the player's age and contract situation.
Despite the Chelsea faithful wanting success to occur right now, it seems that Todd Boehly has other ideas.
The ambitious owner is setting up a squad full of young talent that can not only develop together but also ensure that dominance is maintained for years to come.
Chelsea star Cole Palmer
Estevao Willian is the latest superstar to join the Blues, but he won’t arrive until the summer of 2025.
With the Brazilian in mind, let’s take a look at another Chelsea target who may just be as talented as the 17-year-old.
Chelsea’s search for a new attacker
According to reports from Spain earlier this week, Chelsea are believed to be keen on signing Julio Enciso.
The Brighton & Hove Albion star has been subject of ‘great interest’ from the Blues, who are looking to bolster the attacking department.
It’s said that the Paraguay international could have a price tag of around £51m, with numerous big clubs across Europe keeping an eye on him.
However, the Seagulls view the youngster as a key player, which may make negotiations slightly more difficult.
Why Enciso could be just as talented as Estevao
During the 2022/23 campaign, Roberto De Zerbi unleashed the brilliant Enciso, who became an influential player towards the end of the campaign.
The 20-year-old featured 20 times that season, with only seven of those being starts, but he still managed to score four goals and provide two assists.
Unfortunately, the Paraguayan’s most recent season was interrupted by a torn meniscus in August, which kept him out of 32 matches.
Prior to his injury, the attacking midfielder had registered two Premier League assists in two matches, and he ended the campaign with just five league starts.
Starts
7
8
Goals
4
3
Assists
2
2
Shots per game
1.9
2.5
Successful dribbles
1.6
1.8
However, despite suffering from a setback, Enciso still has the potential to become a world-class player, just like Chelsea new boy Estevao.
As you can see from their stats, both players have very similar play styles in terms of how they approach the game, combining attacking flair with a devastating end product.
Both youngsters are excellent technically, which enables them to serve as great creative outlets, using their passing and vision to unlock backlines.
However, the most dangerous side of their game is when they’re direct and running with the ball, as their dribbling ability is simply mesmerising.
Both prospects are full of confidence and flair, but they also have goal-scoring attributes, which would take them from being a good player to an elite one.
That said, Enciso does currently have a slight advantage of instantly succeeding at Chelsea if he were to join, simply due to his experience of already playing in the English top flight.
Football scout Jacek Kulig has already described the Brighton ace as “very special,” and he’s proved that he can thrive against the very best, with a wonder strike versus Manchester City in 2023 serving as evidence of his quality.
Overall, Enciso is a player who could come into the Chelsea side next season and make an impact on the first team, and if he can get a run of games, he’ll surely be viewed as one of the best prospects in England once again.
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Chelsea are set for a busy summer with plenty of signings expected.
In a repeat of their deal to sell Douglas Luiz, Aston Villa could now land a fresh face in a swap move to sell off an academy graduate this summer, with an offer reportedly presented.
Aston Villa transfer news
The Villans were left with little choice but to sell players this summer in an attempt to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, leading to the pending exits of Omari Kellyman and Luiz to Chelsea and Juventus respectively, having already sold Tim Iroegbunam to Everton. The departure of Luiz will be a particular blow, but those at Villa Park will at least receive both Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea in the other direction.
It's not the only swap deal that the Midlands club have reportedly been offered either. According to The Times, Tottenham Hotspur have offered Giovani Lo Celso in a swap deal to sign Aston Villa academy graduate Jacob Ramsey, but have already reportedly seen that offer rejected.
It remains to be seen just where Spurs will go following their first failed offer and whether a larger transfer fee will be offered alongside Lo Celso. It has to be said, a player of the Argentine's calibre would go a long way towards replacing Ramsey if the midfielder did part ways with his boyhood club in the coming months.
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Completing a move to Spurs for a reported £27m in 2020, Lo Celso has never quite made the desired impact in North London but could rediscover his best form with a move to Villa Park.
"Great" Lo Celso would instantly replace Ramsey
Whilst Spurs' offer has reportedly been rejected, the deal that would see Ramsey head to North London and Lo Celso head in the other direction certainly makes sense, especially as the Villans step into the Champions League. Unai Emery's side will need as much strength in depth as they can get and the more experienced Argentina international would undoubtedly offer that in place of Ramsey – he has an incredible 53 caps for La Albiceleste.
Minutes
506
853
Goals
2
1
Assists
2
1
Key Passes
18
10
As both players struggled with injuries and, therefore, minutes last season, Lo Celso still managed to impress Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou. The Australian said via The Evening Standard: "Gio was great. He's been great the last two or three weeks. With the amount of injuries we've had and absences we've had, we've needed everyone in the group and everybody who has come in has stepped up.
"Gio was very good today, not just with his work rate but you could see his quality on the ball. His passes through and the one through to Sonny was outstanding. We needed him today and we're going to need him going forward because Sonny goes away now, Biss goes away, Pape goes away. So I thought he was a good contributor."
Say what you want for Chelsea's efforts on the pitch over the past few years, but Todd Boehly and Co haven't exactly been guilty of a lack of ambition.
And despite the mutual termination of Mauricio Pochettino's contract at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, a decision that left some perplexed and others discouraged after patent signs of growth under the Argentine's tutelage, Chelsea have responded with the promising appointment of Enzo Maresca, making shrewd market moves too.
New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca
Tosin Adarabioyo has bolstered the backline; up-and-coming prospects pour into Cobham like a cascade. The youth-heavy recruitment strategy is all well and good but the Blues need some instant fizz to enrich the tissue of Maresca's squad, with a free-scoring striker at the top of the shopping list.
Chelsea striker news
If you're a Chelsea fan and you're unaware of the interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, you've probably been living under a rock.
armando-broja-alexander-isak-west-ham
Chelsea have been in contact with the Magpies for the Swede's transfer to west London, though, as Sky Sports report, Newcastle are seeking £100m and completing a deal would be complicated. Wisely, a high-class alternative is also on the shortlist.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli are growing concerns over a lack of interest in centre-forward Victor Osimhen, who has been expected to leave the 2022/23 Serie A champions this summer, but does name the Blues as one of the teams eyeing him up – alongside Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Naples club's new manager, Antonio Conte, has confirmed that the Nigerian is free to depart this summer, though they may be forced to consider reducing their £102m asking price.
Why Chelsea are interested in a striker
Chelsea need some firepower up front. It's a no-brainer. Last season, despite showing signs of improvement, the Blues only managed to finish sixth in the Premier League and proved to be profligate in front of goal, often playing promising football only to come unstuck in decisive phases of play.
1.
Liverpool
86
79
2.
Chelsea
77
73
2.
Manchester City
96
73
4.
Newcastle United
85
70
5.
Brentford
56
69
Nicolas Jackson, talented as he may be, scored 14 goals from 35 Premier League matches last season but he also missed a whopping 24 big chances, consistently missing the mark in promising positions.
Isak, conversely, posted 21 goals from 30 matches and only missed 21 big chances. It's clear that the Swede is one of the Premier League's foremost finishers, proving himself to be a true marksman and an "exceptional talent", as has been said by Eddie Howe.
Signed to St. James' Park from Real Sociedad in 2022 after Newcastle paid a club-record £63m fee, the 24-year-old has myriad talents that would see Chelsea advance their frontline to one of the finest in Europe, ranking among the top 7% of centre-forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 17% for progressive passes, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Signing him is not going to be easy; including Jackson as a makeweight has even been discussed internally at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have long suffered from inconsistency at No. 9 and it's paramount that the right man is welcomed this summer to fire Stamford Bridge back into the limelight.
Should Boehly and his cohort fail in their efforts for Isak, Osimhen would be the dream alternative, perhaps even the better pick.
Why Victor Osimhen would be a dream for Chelsea
Europe watched Naples fall last season. Having incredibly won Serie A in resounding fashion in 2022/23, breezing through the division with ease, Napoli fell by the wayside quite incredibly last year, finishing tenth.
Napoli star Victor Osimhen
Osimhen's injury-hit campaign clearly had a detrimental effect on his team's frontal fluency, only starting 22 top-flight matches as he battled against muscular problems, the situation further compounded by his January and February absence for the African Cup of Nations.
Still, he scored 15 goals and only missed 15 big chances in the league, denoting his incredible goalscoring threat. After all, it would be a disservice to so quickly forget the exploits of the previous year. Chelsea certainly haven't.
Let's put Osimhen's 2022/23 campaign into perspective: FBref recorded the £209k-per-week striker to rank among the top 1% of positional peers over Napoli's Scudetto-winning campaign for goals scored, shots taken and touches in the attacking penalty area per 90. Analyst Raj Chohan dubbed him a "monster" and it's clear to see why.
Such numbers place the 6 foot 1 star in a distinct category, alongside the likes of Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and the ageing Robert Lewandowski as the superlative strikers of contemporary times.
Isak has demonstrated great gusto and tenacity to push himself toward that bracket but he's not got the same kind of output as the Nigeria international, who even last season, despite his struggles, ranked among the top 10% of forwards for shots taken and the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.
The 25-year-old, moreover, is athletic and skilful, selfless (when need be) and combative. Talent scout Jacek Kulig once hailed him as a "hitman" but he is truly so much more, and he would provide Chelsea with a deadly sharpshooter required to rise to a position of prominence at the height of the European game.
The clip above shows Osimhen producing a remarkable piece of skill to deftly bamboozle defenders and fire a threaded sideward ball into the onrushing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, showcasing an impressive string to his bow that Chelsea would make good use of.
Isak or Osimhen? It's rather patent that Chelsea will launch an official bid to sign a striker this summer, let's hope Maresca and his transfer team make the right choice and end the Blues' No. 9 curse once and for all.
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It is now down to Boehly and his team to get a deal over the line for Osimhen as a dream alternative to the Sweden international this summer to ensure that Maresca has a high-quality number nine to lead the line and fire the Blues to glory in the 2024/25 campaign.
Just as in 2021, Gareth Southgate was unable to lead England to European Championship glory in Germany. While the campaign was not without its challenges as England laboured towards the latter stages of the tournament, the Three Lions’ ultimate failure to put an end to 58 years of hurt saw Southgate call time on his tenure.
Southgate oversaw one of England’s most successful periods in decades. During his eight years in charge, the Three Lions reached a World Cup quarter-final and semi-final, as well as two European Championship finals.
But having come so close to ending their long trophy drought, where does he rank among England’s best managers? Ranking them by win percentage, Football FanCast takes a look at the top 10 managers to take on the job. However, much to the disappointment of Sam Allardyce, to qualify for this list, they must have managed a minimum of ten games.
All data correct as of 15th July 2024. Games settled via penalty shootouts are considered as draws.
Manager
Tenure
Games
Wins
Win%
Fabio Capello
2008-2012
42
28
66.7%
Alf Ramsey
1962-1974
113
69
61.1%
Glenn Hoddle
1996-1999
28
17
60.7%
Ron Greenwood
1977-1982
55
33
60%
Gareth Southgate
2016-2024
102
61
59.8%
Sven-Goran Eriksson
2001-2006
67
40
59.7%
Roy Hodgson
2012-2016
56
33
58.9%
Walter Winterbottom
1946-1962
139
78
56.1%
Steve McClaren
2006-2007
18
9
50%
Bobby Robson
1982-1990
95
47
49.5%
Don Revie
1974-1977
29
14
48.3%
Graham Taylor
1990-1993
38
18
47.4%
Terry Venables
1994-1996
24
11
45.8%
Kevin Keegan
1999-2000
18
7
38.9%
10 Sir Bobby Robson 49.5% win rate
Sir Bobby Robson England manager
Tenure
1982-1990
Games
95
Wins
47
Draws
30
Losses
18
World Cup best
4th place (1990)
European Championship best
Group stage (1988)
After an impressive managerial stint in charge of Ipswich Town, Robson was handed the chance to take charge of England in 1982.
His time at the helm began poorly. He controversially dropped Kevin Keegan and saw England fail to qualify for Euro 1984, but despite his offers to resign, he was kept in his post and helped England qualify for the 1986 World Cup two years later.
His side reached the last eight of the competition, only to be knocked out by a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina including the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal. Two years later, they were out at the group stage of the European Championship.
Robson is perhaps best remembered for the 1990 World Cup, where his side lost to West Germany on penalties in the semi-finals. Heartbreaking but England’s best tournament performance in decades nonetheless, Robson left on a high despite a paltry 49.5% win percentage.
9 Steve McClaren 50% win rate
Steve McClaren England vs Croatia 2008
Tenure
2006-2007
Games
18
Wins
9
Draws
4
Losses
5
World Cup best
n/a
European Championship best
Qualifying stage (2008)
Put in charge of England after Luis Felipe Scolari turned down the role, Steve McClaren is remembered by England fans for all the wrong reasons. With a 50% win rate in charge of the Three Lions, he was unable to string together any consistency, and dropped popular veterans such as David Beckham and Sol Campbell.
The results didn’t vindicate his decisions, and a 2-1 defeat to Russia in Euro 2008 qualifying meant that they needed to beat Croatia at Wembley to book their place at the tournament. A 3-2 loss while McClaren stood under an umbrella became the main storyline from the game, as England failed to qualify for the Euros for the first time since 1984.
The next day, he had been fired and his 18 games in charge remains one of the shortest reigns an England manager has ever recorded. His tenure was a total disaster.
8 Sir Walter Winterbottom 56.1% win rate
Tenure
1946-1962
Games
139
Wins
78
Draws
33
Losses
28
World Cup best
Quarter-finals (1954, 1962)
European Championship best
n/a
England’s first-ever manager, Walter Winterbottom was also the longest-serving coach that the Three Lions have ever had. Appointed with zero managerial experience, he had the help of a selection committee (something later done away with) and managed an impressive 78 wins in 139 games, qualifying for four World Cups but never making it past the quarter-finals.
Despite some impressive results against major players Italy, Portugal and Brazil, however, he is probably best known for being the man replaced by Sir Alf Ramsey in 1962.
Ranking the 10 best English football players ever
We have ranked the top 10 football players to play for the Three Lions.
1 ByLuke Randall Jun 16, 2024 7 Roy Hodgson 58.9% win rate
Roy Hodgson England Slovakia Euro 2016
Tenure
2012-2016
Games
56
Wins
33
Draws
15
Losses
8
World Cup best
Group stage (2014)
European Championship best
Quarter-finals (2016)
Another manager whose win percentage doesn’t truly reflect his perception as England boss, Roy Hodgson took charge in the aftermath of Fabio Capello’s exit, with England having already qualified for Euro 2012.
The tournament began well with a draw against France and wins against Sweden and Ukraine, as the Three Lions finished top of their group.
But defeat to Italy on penalties ended their run and marked the high point of Hodgson’s reign. In Brazil two years later, his side finished bottom of their group thanks to defeats to Uruguay and Italy, as well as a draw with Costa Rica.
Still in charge by Euro 2016, Hodgson’s side navigated their way out of the group stage behind Wales, but fell at the first knockout hurdle as they capitulated to a 2-1 defeat to minnows Iceland, one of the worst results in England’s history.
With just three wins from 11 tournament games, he resigned immediately after that defeat.
6 Sven-Goran Eriksson 59.7% win rate
Tenure
2001-2006
Games
67
Wins
40
Draws
17
Losses
10
World Cup best
Quarter-finals (2002, 2006)
European Championship best
Quarter-finals (2004)
After success in Italy at club level, Eriksson was appointed England boss in 2001, and despite a memorable 5-1 win over Germany, they still relied on David Beckham’s free kick to secure qualification for the 2002 World Cup.
He navigated the Three Lions through the group stage before eventually falling in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Brazil in a game remembered for Ronaldinho’s lob of David Seaman.
At Euro 2004, his side fell to a penalty shootout defeat to Portugal in the quarter-finals, and there was plenty of apathy towards Eriksson, to the point that he had agreed to leave his post even before the 2006 World Cup had kicked off.
Portugal once again foiled the Three Lions, with a second successive shootout defeat at the quarter-final stages, leaving Eriksson signing out with a whimper, despite plenty of initial promise.
5 Gareth Southgate 59.8% win rate
Tenure
2016-2024
Games
102
Wins
61
Draws
24
Losses
17
World Cup best
4th place (2018)
European Championship best
Runners-up (2020, 2024)
Loved and hated in equal measure depending on which England fan you ask, Southgate’s methods may have been boring at times, but his results spoke for themselves.
Appointed initially on a caretaker basis after Sam Allardyce was sacked, he remained in the post for eight years, during which time he reached heights
In that time, he has reached a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final while instilling a feel-good factor around the England camp after years of distrust.
Year
Finish
2018 World Cup
Semi-final
Euro 2020
Runner-up
2022 World Cup
Quarter-finals
Euro 2024
Runner-up
However, there are accusations that he is too conservative, especially in games where his side have taken the lead and gone on to lose (namely against Croatia in 2018 and Italy in 2021).
Despite this, his record in charge was impressive, and guided England through one of their best periods of international football. And even without a trophy under his tenure, he leaves the role having out-performed plenty of his predecessors.
Every England penalty shootout at major tournaments
A chance to relive all of the Three Lions’ penalty shootouts at major tournaments.
Initially appointed as caretaker boss, Greenwood ended up in charge of England for five years, and made history by selecting the first black player to play for the Three Lions in Viv Anderson.
However, his side were not too successful on the pitch. They failed to qualify for the 1978 World Cup, were knocked out in the group stages of Euro 1980, and though they qualified for the World Cup in 1982, were knocked out in the second group stage.
Eventually, he stepped down, leaving the post with an impressive win percentage, but little to show for it.
3 Glenn Hoddle 60.7% win rate
Tenure
1996-1999
Games
28
Wins
17
Draws
6
Losses
5
World Cup best
Round of 16 (1998)
European Championship best
n/a
Appointed as the replacement for Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle was in charge for 28 games across his three-year stint in charge, winning 17 of those. However, tournament football remained a disappointment, as his side lost to Argentina in the second round of the 1998 World Cup and had a poor start to Euro 2000 qualification.
The former Spurs and Chelsea man never got to see through that qualification campaign, leaving the England job under a cloud after making comments to a journalist about disabled people being punished for the sins of their former lives. Though he argued they were “misconstrued, misunderstood and misinterpreted”, the backlash prompted the FA to terminate his contract.
Despite that, his managerial success is only bettered by three other Three Lions bosses.
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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 13, 2024 2 Sir Alf Ramsey 61.1% win rate
Tenure
1963-1974
Games
113
Wins
69
Draws
27
Losses
17
World Cup best
Winners (1966)
European Championship best
Third place (1968)
The only England men’s manager to win an international trophy, Sir Alf Ramsey remains a manager unequalled in the minds of many.
He took on the role in 1962 and immediately claimed that his side would win the 1966 World Cup, but he suffered a 6-3 aggregate defeat to France as his were side knocked out of qualifying for Euro 1964 to leave his claim seeming hollow.
1966 rolled around and England sailed through the group stage on home soil, beating France and Mexico before beating Argentina 1-0 in the quarter-finals. They went on to beat Portugal in the semi-finals and famously defeat West Germany 4-2 in the final thanks to a hat-trick from Sir Geoff Hurst.
Ramsey went on to reach the semi-finals of the 1968 European Championship and the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1970, but neither he nor any other England boss has managed to replicate the success experienced in 1966.
1 Fabio Capello 66.7% win rate
Tenure
2008-2012
Games
42
Wins
28
Draws
8
Losses
6
World Cup best
Round of 16 (2010)
European Championship best
n/a
Still England’s most successful manager by win percentage, Fabio Capello is often accused of squandering England’s golden generation despite his overall record. Taking charge in 2008, the former Milan and Real Madrid manager was hailed as the right sort of man for the job thanks to his trophy record and reputation for discipline, which is something many felt was lacking in previous regimes.
His tournament record was less than ideal, though. England were knocked out by Germany in the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup after a poor group stage campaign in which they won just once, with the Italian leaving before Euro 2012 came around despite helping the Three Lions to qualify for the competition.
Of his 42 games at the helm, Capello won an impressive 28 of them, losing just six. Though it gives him the best win percentage of any manager to have been in charge of the Three Lions, his tournament record means that few will remember him too fondly.
As the new campaign approaches, Leeds United have reportedly joined the race to sign a Championship star in an attempt to beat a number of Premier League sides to his signature.
Leeds transfer news
The Whites have so far endured a difficult transfer window, losing both Archie Gray and Glen Kamara in two major blows to Daniel Farke's side following the heartbreak of play-off failure at the end of last season. But things could yet look up for those at Elland Road, who have reportedly tabled an offer to sign FC Koln midfielder Dejan Ljubicic, who could replace Kamara.
What's more, Leeds have also been linked with Blackburn Rovers forward Sammie Szmodics following his standout campaign in England's second tier last time out. If the Yorkshire club were missing any firepower, he would certainly add that in abundance, having won the Championship's Golden Boot last season. Before they potentially move for Szmodics, however, Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises may well turn their attention towards another midfield reinforcement for Farke.
Sammie Szmodics
According to Corriere dello Sport via MOT Leeds News, Leeds have joined the race to sign Gabriel Sara from Norwich City this summer alongside the likes of Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Galatasaray. As the Canaries earned a play-off place, before suffering a defeat against Leeds last season, Sara was a standout in David Wagner's side. Earning plenty of interest as a result, the midfielder may now have a decision to make.
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Those at Elland Road may hope that, if Sara does decide to leave Carrow Road this summer, then he chooses a move to Yorkshire and the chance to compete for a promotion to the Premier League, but Norwich could be reluctant to let their star man leave.
"Outstanding" Sara can replace Gray
Whilst Gray filled in at right-back for the majority of the last campaign, his natural role remains in midfield to create an absence that Sara could yet emerge to fill at Elland Road in the coming season. Earning a reported £19k-a-week at Norwich, the 25-year-old is not someone who would disrupt the wage bill at Leeds and certainly proved last season that he can replace Gray and unleash Georginio Rutter even further in the process.
Goals
13
0
Assists
12
2
Key Passes
119
17
Ball Recoveries
226
196
After a staggering 25 goal involvements across the campaign, it's no surprise that former Norwich boss Wagner was full of praise for Sara, saying via The Pink Un last season: "He works hard. He can easily run between 12 and 13 kilometres and has great vision. He is an outstanding player and a top professional.
"He always has 'team first' in his head, and it is something very special to have a player who is producing these numbers but has this in their head. It's a pleasure to have him in the team. You have seen how hungry and greedy he is to make something special out of this season."
In a hectic summer transfer window, Rangers have now reportedly made their first move to sign a Premier League gem in a repeat of last season's deal for Abdallah Sima.
Rangers transfer news
Even with nine fresh faces to choose from, Philippe Clement couldn't guide his Rangers side to victory on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership campaign, with Hearts holding the Gers to a frustrating 1-1 draw. The Belgian will hope that, given time, his reinforcements will begin to make their mark in pursuit of finally dethroning Celtic once more. The latest to arrive in that pursuit is Robin Propper from FC Twente.
The central defender arrives fresh from captaining his former side and told Rangers' official website: “Rangers is a big club and it feels really good to be here. I was glad to hear about the club wanting to sign me. I always said I wanted to have a new adventure in another country and when a club like Rangers comes in for you it feels surreal.
“This club breathes football and you want to play your football here. I spoke to Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny and they only had nice things to say about the club. It’s nice to see some familiar faces. You hear about the Rangers fans and how it is here and I am really happy to be here.”
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As an experienced player gets settled in, however, a future star could be on his way. According to Football Scotland, Rangers have contacted Chelsea to sign Leo Castledine on a season-long loan deal, with negotiations ongoing. The obstacle seemingly in the way of the deal as things stand is the Gers' desire to agree a loan with an option to buy; a desire that Chelsea do not match.
An attacking midfielder who made his senior debut for the Blues in last season's 6-1 thrashing of Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, Castledine could now be thrown into consistent first-team action at Rangers.
"Strong" Castledine can replicate Sima's Premier League quality
As things stand, Sima is not set to complete a return to Rangers, be that on loan or in a permanent deal from Brighton & Hove Albion this summer. Replicating the quality of such a player will be no easy task. After all, the winger managed 16 goals and two assists in all competitions for the Gers. But turning back to the Premier League for an alternative option is certainly the next best choice that those in Glasgow can make.
Leo Castledine for Chelsea.
Castledine is far less experienced than Sima, of course, but with the ability to play as an attacking midfielder and on the right-hand side, he could yet emerge as a Sima replacement. The praise of former Chelsea U21's manager Mark Robinson suggests as much.
He told The Athletic: "It’s just his character really. It’s just the way he is. You knew he could handle it. Physically he is strong. He was standing out in his own age group so we just took him to give him a taste of the under-18 level early. As well as being a very good footballer, he has a tremendous attitude and he works very hard on his game too."