Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy, believes Frank Lampard’s track record of improving young players could stand him in good stead for bossing the English national team one day.
Southgate has been impressive since taking over as the Three Lions manager.
In his first outing with the team he led them to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
He then guided them to the final of the just concluded European Championship where they lost to Italy on penalties.
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His contract runs until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Cundy, who played for Chelsea from 1988 to 1992, has earmarked Lampard, who has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in January, as a potential replacement.
He told talkSPORT: “Right now, Southgate is the only man for the job. But if there is a change of manager after the World Cup and Frank is available…”
Cundy’s co-host Andy Goldstein interjected, saying: “Oh, shut up! What are you talking about?”
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Cundy continued: “Bearing in mind what he did with those young players at Chelsea – don’t forget his record with young players is pretty good.”
Goldstein replied: “He left the Chelsea side in ninth, your manager [Thomas Tuchel] came in and won the Champions League and got top four with the same team.”
In his first job in management with Derby, Lampard worked with youngsters such as Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Jayden Bogle and Harry Wilson.
He then took the Chelsea job and reunited with Mount and Tomori, before giving more first-team opportunities to Tammy Abraham, Billy Gilmour, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James.
Cundy made a point that international management is completely different to bossing a club.
He said: “Southgate got Middlesbrough relegated, what does that prove?
“I’m saying in terms of what Frank has done as a manager in his infant years, it’s not as ridiculous as it sounds.
“Southgate hadn’t done anything as a manager [before England]. Being an international manager is very different from club football. Southgate has proven that, Joachim Low has proven that.”
Cundy and Goldstein were reacting to a call from Chelsea fan Jack, who insisted Lampard is a better manager than Southgate.
He said: “Frank Lampard would do a better job as England manager and getting the best out of these England players than Gareth Southgate is doing.
“Lampard will get better performances out of the players.
“Southgate’s first tournament in charge was the World Cup and the teams we played in that World Cup, you [Goldstein] could have got us to the semi-final.
“Frank Lampard is a better manager than Southgate because of what he’s achieved in his managerial career.”
