Former Liverpool and England defender Phil Thompson has admitted he'd like to see Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager.
Southgate has been the England manager since 2016 after Sam Allardyce's controversial tenure was swiftly ended. In that time, he has guided the Three Lions to their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years and also to the final of the European Championships.
However, in the recent batch of England matches, Southgate's side were booed off after losing 4-0 to Hungary in the Nations League, stretching their winless run in the competition to four matches.
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And with the pressure beginning to build on the England manager, Thompson has listed Gerrard and Lampard as two managers he would like to see succeed Southgate.
Speaking to Paddy Power, Thompson said: “I would like to think Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard could get the England job [if Southgate leaves]. To just manage in the Premier League means you’ve got something about you. And it takes even more to be successful and win trophies.
“I was a bit disappointed in Gareth Southgate when he was Under-21 boss because he did have the opportunity to take England job before, after Roy Hodgson left , and he said it wasn’t the right time for him.
“I thought that was the plan. The U21 boss is groomed to step up and be the first team manager and that is why after the last managerial change, when Sam Allardyce left, he had to take it.
“Southgate has done a great job. He’s brought the nation together and we’ve seen some great matches. Yes, the wheels have come off just lately but there’s not been much wrong with it. We’ve competed with a lot of the top nations. We were England, we played the English way.”
Lampard guided Everton to Premier League survival last season after taking over from Rafa Benitez in January, with the Blues' top-flight in serious jeopardy.
Meanwhile, Gerrard was handed his Premier League invitation after Aston Villa parted with manager Dean Smith last October. The former Liverpool midfielder decided to depart from his role at Rangers, despite guiding the 'Gers to the SPL title just months earlier.
Gerrard has been heavily touted as a potential successor to current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. However, the German signed a new deal at Anfield in May, which will see him stay at the Reds until 2026.
