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Frank Lampard tipped as potential future England manager; Terry Butcher urges Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney to evolve in their coaching paths
Priya Nambiar | June 29, 2026 7:43 PM CST

Frank Lampard, who recently led Coventry City back into the Premier League, has been backed as a possible future England manager. Former England captain Terry Butcher shared with GOAL his desire to see more home-grown coaches take charge of the national team, suggesting that former teammates Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney could also remain in contention for future opportunities.

England have previously turned to foreign coaches for leadership, such as Swedish manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian strategist Fabio Capello. Currently, the Three Lions are under the guidance of former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel. The German tactician has been tasked with ending six decades of disappointment by guiding England to success at the 2026 World Cup.

Tuchel’s initial 18-month contract has already been extended to cover the 2028 European Championship, which will take place across the UK and Ireland. However, questions are already being raised about who might succeed him in the long run.

Lampard, a Chelsea legend with 106 caps for England, is regarded as a strong candidate for future consideration by the Football Association. His managerial career has had its highs and lows—after an impressive start at Derby County, he experienced challenges during two spells at Chelsea and a year-long tenure at Everton. But his reputation has been restored after ending Coventry’s 25-year absence from the Premier League.

Speaking about the possibility of Lampard one day taking over as England head coach, Butcher—speaking as part of Domino’s ‘Shirtiette’ campaign—told GOAL: “I’d like to think that. I’d like to think that we produce good English coaches.”

He added, “Obviously having a German coach is not what I would have expected or ideally wanted. But Thomas Tuchel has handled the job very professionally, and fair play to him. I support him now and hope he can deliver success.”

“But I want to see English coaches managing England. With Frank’s achievement in getting Coventry back to the top flight, it would be great if he could build on that success and keep them in the league. I’ve got a soft spot for Coventry since it was my first club as a player-manager. I really hope Frank Lampard does well and eventually earns the opportunity to manage England.”

“Of course, if Tuchel wins the World Cup, that would create an interesting dilemma for the FA. But that’s the kind of scenario we’d all welcome.”

There are currently few English managers viewed as ready for the national team role, but that could change. Gerrard and Rooney, two of England’s ‘Golden Generation’, have already taken steps into management. Gerrard guided Rangers to Scottish Premiership glory before struggling at Aston Villa, while Rooney has had brief stints with Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle.

When asked if Lampard’s success could inspire his former teammates, Butcher said: “I’ve taken many steps backwards in my career, not many forward, but you hope players learn. This is a new era compared to their playing days. Adaptability is key—Bobby Robson did it superbly both domestically and abroad. You need to adapt, understand your style, and be fully committed. With a bit of luck, you can win games.”

He continued, “The more successful English managers become, the greater the pressure on Thomas Tuchel and the FA to eventually appoint an Englishman. That’s what I’d love to see.”

“Right now, there aren’t many English coaches in the Premier League. We’ve got Sean Dyche and Eddie Howe, but the pool is limited. Hopefully, more home-grown talent will emerge from St George’s Park. It’s important for English football that we have strong domestic coaches, especially since the Premier League is, after all, an English competition.”

The Premier League will return on August 21, with the 2026–27 season’s start delayed by the ongoing World Cup. England have advanced to the last 32, where they will face DR Congo, as they aim to end their long wait for global glory and give their supporters something to celebrate.

To mark the summer tournament, Domino’s has launched the ‘Shirtiette’ – a football shirt made from napkin material, allowing fans to proudly wear their food and drink stains during matches. The pizza chain is offering these limited-edition shirts to England and Scotland fans for free, encouraging them to embrace the chaos of goal celebrations, penalty misses, and VAR moments.

Made from absorbent serviette fabric, the Shirtiette is designed to handle pizza sauce spills and topping mishaps while fans enjoy the games at home. Supporters can claim their limited-edition England or Scotland Shirtiette at www.dominosshirtiette.com.


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