Kevin Kilbane, a former teammate of Lee Carsley, recalls the defining moment in 2016 when he realised the potential in Carsley for high-profile coaching. After Carsley was appointed as coach of Manchester City’s Under-18s, he began frequenting Kilbane’s residence in Manchester for his commitments, which encompassed travelling from his Midlands home in England.
Impressed by the youth team Carsley coached, Kilbane applauds him for shaping talents such as Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, and Brahim Díaz. Owing to the robust relationships Carsley has fostered with various players across different echelons of football, Kilbane feels there could be considerable momentum within the England team for Carsley to secure a permanent coaching role.
It’s widely known amongst Carsley’s acquaintances that his passion for coaching ignited during his playing days under the guidance of David Moyes at Everton. At 50, Carsley stands as England’s interim head coach, a pivotal role he has been honing through ongoing leadership at the Strachan Foundation located near his Kenilworth residence in Warwick.
The Foundation, set up by Carsley’s previous Coventry coach, Gordon Strachan, offers young non-professional athletes aged 16 to 21 the chance to earn their coaching badges. George Mackie, one of the foundation’s directors, praised Carsley’s active involvement despite his tight schedule, as his penchant for shaping youth is evident.
Carsley accredits his love for coaching to Moyes, who pushed him and his fellow players, including David Weir – Brighton’s current technical director, and Kilbane to attain their coaching badges. According to Kilbane, who now resides in Canada but keeps in touch with Carsley, his friend has nurtured a strategy-oriented approach to football since the mid-90s.
Lee stands out as one of the most diligent professionals I’ve encountered in all my years, displaying unmatched dedication to his craft. He seldom indulged in social outings, and this intense focus on his profession is evident in his coaching approach.
His coaching career took off in 2011 with the Coventry Under-18s, where he soon acquainted himself with the tough side of management. After two stints as caretaker at Coventry, he took up the role of an assistant at Sheffield United, alongside Weir. However, their tenure was short-lived and they were dismissed after a few months.
Carsley and Weir teamed up again at Brentford, where Carsley was appointed the manager for the development squad in October 2014. Within a span of a year, he seamlessly transitioned to the role of a first-team coach. His inspiring leadership led to a sudden positive shift in the team’s performance, earning him a manager-of-the-month accolade before Dean Smith took over in November 2015.
Kilbane notes that Lee was always conscious of the fact that many former players land jobs early in their coaching career, which might prematurely terminate their managerial ambitions. He emphasises that once an individual assumes a head coaching or managerial role, it is challenging to step down to an assistant or understudy position.
He’s maintained a focused career strategy, turning down numerous offers over the years – reflective of his pursuit of longevity in coaching.
Carsley’s aptitude for nurturing young talent didn’t go unnoticed. The English FA recruited him as an assistant to Aidy Boothroyd for England Under-19s. A year on, he made his mark as the first “out-of-possession” coach for the FA, overseeing age groups from under-15 to under-21. This happened during his time at City where, despite losing to Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup final, he was well-appreciated.
Despite being highly esteemed by Pep Guardiola, who invited him to observe the first-team training, Carsley left City after a year. The lessons he picked up there significantly shaped his coaching philosophy.
In 2017, Carsley took his latest club role as the head professional development coach at his previous team – Birmingham. He once again temporarily filled the managerial void before leaving in March 2018.
After assuming a number of positions at St George’s Park, he went on to replace Boothroyd as the manager of the under-21s subsequent to England’s unsuccessful attempt at advancing beyond the group stage during the 2021 European Championship. During his tenure, he has overseen the under-18s, under-19s, and under-20s as the lead of professional development phase.
“His progression through coaching ranks at both junior and senior levels showcases Lee’s meticulous approach,” comments Chris Powell, an accompanying member of the English coaching staff under the guidance of Gareth Southgate, who also had the opportunity to play alongside Carsley at Derby.
Kilbane furthers this, stating, “Despite his non-experience in top-tier management, his methodical approach sets him above many of his peers currently in the sport.”
Recalling Carsley’s remarkable presentation on team strategies during England’s pre-match preparation against Senegal in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar, Powell adds, “Despite the obviously stressful situation, he was commendable in his delivery and was readily equipped with responses to any queries.”
Carsley’s impressive stint as the under-21’s manager, which saw the team clinch the European Championship in July last year for the first time since their back-to-back victories in 1982 and 1984, undoubtedly bolstered his nomination as Southgate’s successor. Powell, currently serving as the assistant manager at Sheffield Wednesday, believes that this triumph reflects Carsley’s strong competence.
Identifying Carsley’s unique game strategy, Powell observes, “He admirably shifted [Angel] Gomes to a more central midfield position while assigning James Garner the right-back role. His intent to control ball possession by placing offensive-minded players in specific roles rather than keeping a traditional right-back exemplifies his astute tactical prowess. Hopefully, these tactics will be just as successful in the senior team.”
Anthony Gordon, now part of the England senior squad along with the likes of Gomes, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Gibbs-White, acknowledges Lee Carsley as the finest “man-manager” he’s worked with. Liverpool’s Harvey Elliot shares the sentiment, crediting the former under-21s coach with having created a space for him to enjoy playing football.
As England faces Ireland in Dublin for the Nations League on Saturday, Kilbane and Powell regard Carsley as a likely candidate for the permanent position, provided he proves his mettle in the upcoming months. Kilbane laments the fact that Carsley isn’t managing the Irish side, admitting that “Ireland missed the boat on that one.”
Kilbane extols Carsley’s comprehensive understanding and experience in coaching and development, both at the club and international level, as a benefit for any potential future employer. Powell adds that Carsley’s familiarity with handling a diverse group moving in the same direction will be beneficial.
According to Powell, there are high expectations from Carsley in these matches; this serves as his chance to leave a lasting imprint. “This perfect storm” is brimming with opportunity for Carsley, as his previous notable success with the under-21s and his current talented, mostly youthful group, puts him in a great position. He emphasizes the necessity of fostering players who are capable of transitioning from the under-21s to the first squad, as has been evidenced in the current team. With the England manager role carrying significant pressure, Powell sees this as Carsley’s moment to truly excel.