Bristol City backed to land "astute" ex-England manager as permanent Gerhard Struber successor | OneFootball

Bristol City have been backed to make a swoop for former England boss Lee Carsley.

Bristol City are on the hunt for their next permanent manager ahead of the 2026-27 whilst Roy Hodgson remains as interim boss.

Hodgson successfully oversaw victories over Charlton Athletic and Sheffield United in his first two games, but the Robins were subsequently held to a 0-0 draw by Queens Park Rangers.

The 78-year-old's first loss in his second spell at Ashton Gate then arrived on Saturday, as the West Country outfit were beaten 4-2 by Norwich City.

Hodgson will hope to oversee a strong end to the season, with Bristol City facing Southampton, Birmingham City, and Stoke City in their last three games, but the long-term focus is to appoint a permanent successor to Gerhard Struber, who was sacked last month after less than a year in charge.

Bristol City told why Lee Carsley could be a success at Ashton Gate

The Robins may land a top-half finish in the Championship this term, but they are vying to launch a stronger play-off bid next season.

With that in mind, the Ashton Gate club must get their next managerial appointment right to emulate the top-six clinching success of the 2024/25 campaign.

Meanwhile, former England boss Lee Carsley is targeting a return to club management, which would end his successful stint in charge of the England Under-21s.

Football League World asked our Bristol City fan pundit, Tom Sandy, if the Robins should have Carsley on their radar.

Sandy told FLW: "Lee Carsley has said that he is keen on a return to club management. Obviously, we're going to be looking for a manager in the summer, and he is a manager with a pretty solid CV at this point, managing the England under-21s very well, managing the England first team.

"He's definitely a manager that a lot of clubs should be looking at, especially around Championship level, which is, realistically, where he's going to come in, but also a place where he can really hone his skills and get the best out of a team.

"I think he's a really talented, really good manager with a lot of experience, just not a lot of experience at club level, which will allow a team like Bristol City to pick him up.

"I think that'd be quite an astute deal. He's a really good manager in terms of bringing through young players. Obviously, that is his job at England under-21s.

"He's someone that has that eye for a young player, so you know if your team has a good young player in the system, he is going to be a manager who is trying to get the best out of them.

"That will be a really exciting plus point to him being appointed. That would be fantastic. As a football fan, especially a football fan of a lower league team, that is one of the best things you can have, watching one of your young players come through and go on to achieve brilliant things like we have had with Antoine Semenyo, Alex Scott.

"Those are players who have gone on and are just setting the world alight now, in the Premier League, and that is because they came through at Bristol City, and that's what makes it so enjoyable to watch them.

"Obviously, that is what you want to see in the future, and Lee Carsley is a manager who will be looking to make the new Antoine Semenyo, the next Alex Scott. Somebody who is going to really take off in their career.

"I would be pretty happy with his managerial appointment. I think his system is quite good, the way he played at England. I think it'd be interesting to see how that obviously translates to club football.

"He also clearly had his favourites, having Angel Gomes there. I wonder if that would be similar in club football, because that's probably something you don't really want.

"You kind of want your players to be playing off performance and earning their spot, rather than somebody who is your manager's favourite, who can sometimes go against them.

"But, if he has a player in his system who works as well as Angel Gomes does, then that is obviously going to be a big plus point. Hopefully, we do bring in a manager who is progressive and wants to bring through young players, because that is probably what you want the most when you bring in a new manager.

"That's what we wanted with Gerhard Struber, that's what we lacked with Liam Manning. Hopefully, our new sporting directors have that same ambition and belief, and desire to play our young players, and hopefully we get a manager like Lee Carsley, who will be willing to do that."

Lee Carsley would be a great match for Bristol City after England exploits

Carsley has proven his excellent managerial talent by winning two consecutive European Under-21 Championships with England, and would be a big-name for Bristol City to appoint - especially following his stint with the Three Lions senior team.

However, as alluded to by Sandy, the 52-year-old's lack of club experience makes him a realistic appointment for the Robins, despite his national reputation.

In recent years, the Robins' academy has produced several talented youngsters, including the aforementioned Semenyo and Scott, who are performing well in the Premier League.

Carsley's excellent performances with the England Under-21s suggest that he can maintain that proud record at Ashton Gate, if he were to be appointed - it could be a realistic and exciting pathway back into club football for the ex-Everton midfielder, should he want to pursue it.