Eight starts, five wins and one regret: Lee Carsley’s superb interim job gives him chance of future with England

The message to Lee Carsley consisted of two words. The message from him was longer. The big screens at both ends of Wembley, after the victory over Ireland, displayed the FA’s thoughts, which seemed to be echoed by the England team: “Thank you.” And yet, Carsley suggested, the goodbyes may not last forever.

He will retreat into the shadows, where an unassuming man often seems most comfortable, returning to the more discreet task of managing the Under-21s.

But Thomas Tuchel only has 18 months of contract. Carsley may appear as the anti-Tuchel, without the charisma or communication powers, medal collection or spells at the helm of superpower clubs. He passes the baton to the German, offering to give him a full report, but with a renewed conviction that he could be his successor.

“I think it’s given the staff and myself the confidence that we can get the job done,” he said. “That’s the most important thing. You always doubt yourself, whether you can do it or not. This suspicion of fragility perhaps does not come from Tuchel. Carsley has a human quality, a normalcy and a basic decency. Elite managers often don’t doubt themselves. Not publicly, anyway.

Carsley is different. “It’s hard and I guess you get used to that awkwardness and that bit of nervousness,” he said. “I sit around the house and I’m constantly thinking about the next camp and the next team and who’s playing well. I’m constantly watching Greece and Ireland, I’m constantly watching the opposition in an unhealthy way.”

A caretaker reign that culminated in a 5-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland was a journey into the unknown for a European champion, with the Under-21s but whose only senior managerial experience came as interim manager of Coventry and Birmingham.

“I definitely feel like I’m out of my comfort zone, but not beyond my capabilities. At no point did I feel like I was drowning or struggling,” he added. If there were times when he seemed to struggle, it was in front of the microphone rather than in the technical area. The nonsense about national anthems was a crash course in the English circus. There were a few ill-judged comments over the October break, but the FA may have left Carsley out to dry during Tuchel’s recruitment.

On the field, Carsley’s troubles were limited to one game. A characteristic of his tenure is that virtually every decision paid off; except in the defeat to Wembley, where virtually everything, from selection to the no-striker system, backfired. “I mean, I’m still gutted from the Greece game at home,” Carsley said. “Even though we’ve won five of six, I’m immediately looking to the game I think we should have won at Wembley. It’s definitely a lonely place in that dugout when you don’t win at Wembley.

And yet, this solitude did not push Carsley to embrace the conventional. Omitting Harry Kane in Greece showed a boldness that many goalkeepers lack. The captain’s verdict on his six games in charge of the team was nevertheless “top notch”. There are reasons to support this. Two players scored with their first touch of a match: Ollie Watkins in Athens, Jarrod Bowen as a substitute in the 5-0 demolition of Ireland.

Jack Grealish doubled his international goal tally during Carsley’s reign. He wasn’t the only one who excelled. Anthony Gordon may have been underused at Euro 2024. He started five of Carsley’s six matches, scoring his first England goal against Ireland. Trent Alexander-Arnold was named man of the match in three of his four appearances. Rico Lewis took a step forward. Each was a way in which the interim appeared to offer a full-back future beyond the retired Kieran Trippier and the aging Kyle Walker.

And Carsley made eight starts, borrowing heavily from his under-21 side with immediate success. Two scored on debut, and if Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ header against Ireland was just a footnote, Curtis Jones’ glorious goal in Greece garnished an auspicious display. The Liverpudlian’s poise at the base of midfield provided new options in a problematic position. Angel Gomes too, although his small role in November was a surprise.

Two of the other newcomers had an assist, in the case of Morgan Gibbs-White, or two, for Noni Madueke, whose frankness showed England could benefit from attackers running behind the defence. Morgan Rogers contributed to Greece’s second goal while Tino Livramento had a hand in Gordon’s volley against Ireland and he and Lewis Hall are further ways in which Carsley could leave a legacy. “The bonus would be that we increased the player pool,” he said.

He is more offensive than Gareth Southgate. He was more than just a continuity candidate. “We tried to change things,” he explained. “We have tried to change, adapt or evolve on the style, the way we play, the control, the amount of possession we have and the chances we create.”

All of this could give Tuchel plenty to consider. November could have been a lost camp, waiting for the next manager. Carsley made something of it, to add to the evidence he will present. “I’m trying to report on all three camps,” he said. “I’m going to write a paper and then hopefully meet with him and present to him what we think and what we found.”

Maybe England have found a player or two. And amid FA CEO Mark Bullingham’s praise for Carsley, it is possible they have found their penultimate manager.