With the ex-Manchester United defender to leave his post in the summer of 2021, who will take England to the Euros in 2022?
Phil Neville will leave his role as England head coach in July 2021, something the Football Association has come to a decision on over 12 months in advance.
There have been countless questions asked since the news broke, but the biggest is, of course, who will succeed him?
It's a big job to take on. The FA needs a candidate who can bring an attractive playing style to the table and continue to bring young players through. It will also be looking to trust that person not only to lead the team into the home Euros in 2022, but also the 2023 World Cup.
Despite the lack of clarity over the complicated situation, the person will most likely be asked to take Team GB to the Olympic Games next year as well, something Neville was supposed to do this year before it was postponed.
So, who are the candidates to follow in his footsteps?
GettyCasey Stoney
The name most England fans want to see in charge next, Casey Stoney, has taken to management like a duck to water and currently has her newly-promoted Manchester United team sat fourth in the Women's Super League (WSL) table. Her style of play, defensively sound but attractive going forward, has won plaudits, while her player-management skills have shone through as one of her stand-out attributes in her first coaching role.
However, one would argue it's too early for Stoney to take the job. Few would disagree that she is an England manager in the making, having also previously worked in Neville's backroom team in his early days in the job, but with less than two seasons of experience under her belt, she is still very much at the beginning of her coaching journey.
The 37-year-old also only recently signed a contract extension with United, meaning the FA would have to buy out the remainder of her contract, which runs until 2022.
AdvertisementGettyEmma Hayes
Emma Hayes' winning mentality could be exactly what the Lionesses need to bridge the gap to the world's elite. The 43-year-old spent two years as Vic Akers' assistant at Arsenal, working with a record-breaking team that consistently conquered all before them.
Since, she has made a real name for herself at Chelsea, recently lifting the Continental Cup to tick off the final domestic trophy that had eluded her since she took over in 2012. Amid her success, Hayes has constantly batted away links to the England job, focused on the project at hand.
The Blues are desperate to taste glory in the Champions League, having crashed out in the semi-finals last year, and it would be a huge shock to see Hayes walk away without achieving that – particularly for a job she has repeatedly expressed little interest in.
Getty ImagesLaura Harvey
Like Hayes, Laura Harvey's winning experience has left England fans longing for her to take charge of the national team for some time.
The 39-year-old has worked as a coach with the youth teams before, something she juggled with her management of Birmingham City and then Arsenal.
Harvey won 13 trophies in her time with the Gunners, first as part of the backroom staff and then as manager, before moving to the United States to take charge of Seattle Reign. Her success would continue there, with the club winning back-to-back National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Shields in 2014 and 2015.
After a spell in charge of the Utah Royals, Harvey recently joined the U.S. Soccer Federation and has taken charge of their Under-20s team. Settled in the States and having only just taken up a new role, there are doubts as to whether she would be interested in being Neville's successor.
GettyNick Cushing
The desire throughout the England set-up is to win a major tournament, and there are few managers more skilled in navigating the knockout format than Nick Cushing.
The former Manchester City boss won six trophies in his six years with the club, five of them in cup competitions. He also moulded City into a remarkably consistent outfit who have finished in the top two in the WSL in each of the last four seasons – winning the title in 2016.
When Cushing left the club in February, he left them at the top of the standings.
His recent change of job, like many others on this list, limits how interested he would be in the England role. The 35-year-old and his family have just moved to New York City, where he is assistant to Ronny Deila for their Major League Soccer side.
