FA CEO Mark Bullingham confirmed that Carsley would provide Tuchel with “a very detailed handover” to ensure a smooth transition.
Carsley’s tenure wasn’t without complications, notably his controversial “no striker” decision against Greece in October, which led to a damaging 2-1 home loss—a result that prevented him from finishing with a perfect record. He also found himself tangled in mixed messaging about his interest in the permanent role, especially after initially ruling himself out, only to reverse his stance shortly after England’s 3-1 win in Finland. Matters were further complicated by the revelation that Tuchel had already been confirmed as the new manager, even before the Greece loss.
Despite these setbacks, Carsley can look back on his stint with pride. His bold decisions, focus on youth development, and fearless approach to squad selection were generally well-received. Although the Greece defeat was a low point, there were plenty of positives to pass on to Tuchel, particularly in player development.
In his final match, four players scored their first senior goals for England in a dominant performance. Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis all netted, with Harwood-Bellis marking his debut with a header for the fifth goal. It was a historical achievement, as it was the first time since October 1930 that four players had scored their first goals in the same match.
Carsley’s final match was a night of triumph, with everything going right for him. Bowen scored just 29 seconds after coming on, and Harwood-Bellis followed up with a goal only four minutes later.
