LEE CARSLEY’S audition to become England manager sends Stuart Pearce down memory lane.
In the wake of Fabio Capello’s shock resignation on February 8, 2012, Pearce — then the Under-21s boss — acted as interim while the FA searched for a replacement.
Now more than a decade on, Carsley is stepping up from the Young Lions with six games between now and mid-November to prove he can fill Gareth Southgate’s sizeable shoes.
And that starts away to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
He may be playing it down but it is clear Carsley, 50, would jump at the “impossible job” — which even weighed heavy on Italian managerial great Capello.
But the England hotseat is not for everyone, Pearce included, despite a playing career including 78 Three Lions caps and a stint in charge of Manchester City from 2005-2007.
Pearce took the U21s to a Euros final in 2009 — with former FA director of football Sir Trevor Brooking asking Pearce, 49 at the time, whether he considered himself a candidate for the role.
Pearce told SunSport: “I told him I didn’t think I was ready for that leap. I felt I needed more experience. I always knew I was doing it for the one game.”
That one game was a friendly at Wembley on February 29, 2012 against a Holland side fresh from reaching the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa.
Pearce’s England fought back from 2-0 down only to lose 3-2 to a late Arjen Robben goal.
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Danny Welbeck, then 21, and Chris Smalling, then 22, were given their fourth and third caps respectively, with a one-and-only cap off the bench for 24-year-old striker Fraizer Campbell.
On May 1, Roy Hodgson was officially appointed on a four-year contract.
Pearce left the FA 12 months later, having led Team GB to the Olympic quarter-finals at London 2012.
Pearce continued: “I used that game to bed in a couple of younger players. Bear in mind we had a Euros that summer and also an Olympic Games. It felt big, no doubt about that.
“You put pressure on yourself. But it was the biggest honour to manage your country at senior level.”
Carsley also made his name within the FA, starting with the U20s in 2020 and moving to the U21s in July 2021.
The likes of Mauricio Pochettino — on the verge of managing the USA national team — Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter have been linked with the full-time role.
But Pearce feels Carsley, whose Young Lions had won 23 from 29 and lifted the Euros in summer 2023, has the edge.
His bow as England interim comes with Nations League encounters against Republic of Ireland on Saturday, then Finland at Wembley on Tuesday.
Pearce added: “When you haven’t managed at international level, coming in from the outside, it can be daunting.
“I’m sure Lee will feel that pressure but he’s worked inside the FA for a number of years and understands the pressure. That’s why he’ll be OK.
“Carsley was a common-sense approach. He has trod the same path as Southgate and these games are not high-pressure ones.
“This will buy the FA some time to have a look at other candidates.
“But make no mistake, this is an audition for Lee. It is a fantastic opportunity to show what he can do.
“And if he does well, he might just force the FA’s hand.”
Carsley boldly dropped the likes of Kyle Walker, Aaron Ramsdale, Marcus Rashford and James Maddison.
Call-ups Angel Gomes, Tino Livramento, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke all played under Carsley for the U21s.
Pearce added: “If he thinks this job is for him must utilise these games to bed in for a decent tilt at the 2026 World Cup.”
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