On September 30th, a discussion about England's managerial position quietly heated up in a report by The Athletic. The media outlet boldly suggested that the English FA should perhaps consider setting their sights on a brand new field leader - England women's football boss Wegmann - to replace Southgate.
Southgate has been in charge of England for over six years now, but the team's recent lackluster performances may have caused the English FA to start re-examining their managerial options. Popular candidates such as Porter and Eddie Howe seem to have drifted away, Lampard and Gerrard have yet to fully prove themselves, and Sean Dyche's tactical style doesn't seem to suit the Three Lions. Against this backdrop, Wegmann's name has attracted a lot of attention.
The Athletic believes Wegmann is a brave choice for the England managerial position. She proved her prowess in women's football by leading England's women's football team to win this year's European Cup. Compared to Southgate, Wegmann has the advantage of being more clinical and able to adjust her tactics according to the course of the game.
On the question of Wegmann's willingness to accept the England men's football position, The Athletic cited salary and the chance of historic success as the two main motivators for her to accept the offer. Although some have questioned why England women's football has taken on a foreign manager, Wegmann's success in women's football is there for all to see.
However, hiring Wegman could also face some challenges. Will her tactics work the same between men's and women's soccer? Does she have the experience to deal with male players? All of these questions will take time and effort to resolve.
From Southgate's point of view, replacing him with Wegmann might have some impact on England's tactical system. Wegman, on the other hand, said that no matter what the future holds, coaching men's soccer is of great significance to her.
Finally, The Athletic concludes that in the world of women's football looking for a coach brave enough to try his hand at coaching men's football, Wegmann is undoubtedly the best man for the job. If Wegmann's predecessor, Phil Neville, ends up leading England's women's soccer team to a title, there will certainly be more calls for him to replace Southgate. And if no one is paying attention to Wegmann, does that mean she is being slighted?
Recruiting an England skipper has nothing to do with gender equality, but choosing a skipper who has proven himself at the tournament level will undoubtedly be more beneficial to the team's success in the World Series than choosing an unproven coach.
