Ashley Cole, Lescott join Carsley’s England interim coaching team

Lee Carsley, stepping in as the interim manager for England’s senior men’s football team, has unveiled his backroom team ahead of the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches.

Carsley will be supported by former Three Lions stars Ashley Cole and Joleon Lescott, along with Tim Dittmer, the FA’s head of coaching.

The trio brings a wealth of experience from their time with the U21s, where they played a crucial role in securing the 2023 U21 European Championship title.

A statement from the Three Lions website, issued on Friday, disclosed this.

It was titled, “Lee Carsley Reveals His Backroom Team and England Men’s Development Coaches Confirmed.”

As England prepares to kick off their UEFA Nations League B2 campaign with crucial fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, the FA has also announced significant changes within the senior men’s coaching staff and the broader men’s development team structure.

These updates mark a strategic shift as the FA continues to build a diverse and experienced coaching pipeline to guide England’s national teams into the future.

“Lee Carsley will be assisted by Three Lions legend Ashley Cole during his interim spell in charge of the England senior men.

“Cole’s former England colleague Joleon Lescott will also join Carsley’s temporary backroom team alongside Tim Dittmer, the FA’s head of coaching.

“The trio have worked alongside Carsley with the U21s and were part of the 2023 U21 EURO-winning squad.

September sees England start their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League B2 campaign as they travel to the Republic of Ireland on Saturday 7 September (5 pm KO) before hosting Finland at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Tuesday 10 September (7.45 pm KO).”

Cole, a first-team coach at Birmingham City, is one of only nine men to achieve 100 caps at senior level for England and has participated in five major tournaments, making him the nation’s sixth most-capped male. Lescott made 26 senior appearances between 2007 and 2013, including being part of the squad at UEFA EURO 2012.

Dittmer has been with the FA for more than a decade and, having been a national goalkeeping coach most notably with the U21s during that period, was promoted to head of coaching across all men’s development teams in 2021.

Meanwhile, according to the statement, several changes in the senior men’s coaching staff include the departure of goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson and coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Additionally, performance analysts Stephen O’Brien and Michael Baker have been reassigned to strategic projects, while James Ryder will now work with the new setup.

“Elsewhere, senior men’s performance analysts Stephen O’Brien and Michael Baker have been seconded by technical director John McDermott to focus on strategic projects in preparation for the permanent successor to Gareth Southgate, with 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying to immediately follow this autumn’s UEFA Nations League matches.

“Both Stephen and Michael have been a mainstay of the senior setup, with their influential work behind the scenes being a key factor in England’s recent run to major finals. As a result, performance analyst James Ryder will step across to work with the new setup.

“Goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson departs the FA after eight years. During that period, Margetson played a pivotal role in England’s historic run of tournament results, including two European Championship finals and a FIFA World Cup semi-final,” it further read.

The FA has confirmed the coaching structure for all men’s development teams for the 2024-25 season. This includes interim head coach Ben Futcher for the U21s and Paul Nevin for the Elite League Squad, with various appointments made under the FA and PFA’s England Elite Coach Programme to ensure a diverse coaching talent pipeline.

The coaching structure for all men’s development teams ahead of the 2024-25 season is as follows:

U21s
Interim head coach: Ben Futcher
Assisted by Paul Williams, Tom Huddlestone, and Sam Meek (GK)

Elite League Squad
Interim head coach: Paul Nevin
Assisted by Kevin Nolan, Chris Lock, and Neil Cutler (GK)

U19s
Head coach: Will Antwi
Assisted by Andy Edwards, Paul Harsley, and Adrian Tucker (GK)

U18s
Head coach: Liam Bramley
Assisted by Stuart Delaney, Darius Vassell, and Anthony White (GK)

U17s
Head coach: Neil Ryan
Assisted by Tom Curtis, Matt Thorpe, and Matt Doyle (GK)

U16s
Head coach: Greg Lincoln
Assisted by Andy Edwards and Matthew Hill

U15s
Head coach: Tom Curtis (also Youth Development Phase Lead)

Assisted by Matt Thorpe and Ben Futcher
Sam Meek, Anthony White, Adrian Tucker, Matt Doyle, and Fahd Saleh will also support as goalkeeping coaches across the U15s and U16s.