Lee Carsley’s time in charge of the senior side is due to come to an end after a six-game spell and Jude Bellingham has praised the impact the former Everton midfielder had on him
Jude Bellingham has paid an emotional tribute to outgoing interim England boss Less Carsley.
The 50-year-old is set to return to coaching the Three Lions’ under-21 team after a six-game spell in charge of the senior side following Gareth Southgate’s departure. Thomas Tuchel will take charge in the new year after signing an 18-month deal.
Carsley earned England promotion in the Nations League following victory in his final match, a 5-0 win over Ireland, and blood a new generation of England stars during his brief tenure.
England star Bellingham, who looked refreshed during the most recent international break credited Carsley for his work since the summer. The 21-year-old Real Madrid ace praised the coach for raising his morale after Euro 2024 heartbreak.
“Huge thanks to Lee and his staff for their work in these last few camps,” Bellingham posted on Instagram. “Got my smile back in an England shirt, very grateful!”
Three Lions captain Harry Kane also had some kind words for Carsley. The Bayern Munich forward was pleased with the new faces the interim boss added to the squad.
“Lee has been top drawer and all the staff as well. It’s never easy after a European Championship to come and go again, especially when you come and play the Nations League.
“Sometimes the motivation is a little bit less but they showed great energy and bled through some of the younger lads. Some of the lads might not have got an opportunity if it wasn’t for him.”
For his part, Carsley has not ruled out taking on the job full time in the future. He said: “It has given the staff and myself the confidence that we can do the job. That is the big thing. You always doubt yourself, whether you can do it or not. We often speak about there being a lot of England managers sat in the house picking the team and the squad.
“To have the responsibility to do that and the trust from my bosses has been a massive boost of confidence. The main thing is what we’ve done and that is promotion.”
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham added: “Lee has achieved the main objective from the six fixtures this autumn, securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League.
“He has selected some exciting new players and will be providing Thomas Tuchel with a very detailed handover as they start work on our qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The players have really enjoyed working with Lee and his team. They have made a real impact in their interim roles.”
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