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Privacy NoticeNew interim England football manager Lee Carsley has received plenty of media attention since his first match in charge of the Three Lions. It comes ahead of the England team taking on Finland on Sunday in Helsinki, as manager Carsley will be looking to improve the team’s performance on Sunday at 4.15pm on ITV following a disappointing game against Greece earlier in the week. After two controlled victories in September’s international break The Three Lions managed 2-0 wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland, before lost 1-2 to Greece at Wembley on Thursday. But there were plenty of eyes on Carsley in the moments before kick-off in Dublin in September as he did not take part in the customary singing of the national anthem ahead of his first match in charge.
Lee Carsley – who represented Ireland as a player between 1997 and 2008, making 40 appearances – explained his reasoning for not singing the national anthem in a previous press conference
(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
The 50 year old – who represented Ireland as a player between 1997 and 2008, making 40 appearances – explained his reasoning in a previous press conference. He told the media that singing the anthems is “something that I have never done”, either as a player or during his time in charge of England’s youth sides. He said: “I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game. I really found that, in that period, I was wary about my mind wandering off.”
He told the media that singing the anthems is “something that I have never done”, either as a player or during his time in charge of England’s youth sides
(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
Carsley continued: “I was really focused on the football, and I have taken that into coaching. We had the national anthem with the under-21s also, and I am in a zone at that point. I am thinking about how the opposition are gonna set up and our first actions within the game. I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries. It’s something I am really respectful of.” The Nations League second tier at Aviva Stadium in Dublin saw Carsley take charge with his first match since being temporarily promoted to senior team coach from his role with the under-21s.
The new interim England football manager has received plenty of media attention since his first match in charge of the Three Lions
(Image: PA)
The 50-year-old was placed in temporary charge of the Three Lions in August following Gareth Southgate’s resignation and Carsley oversaw an impressive 2-0 win against Ireland back in September. Carsley has enjoyed major success with England’s youth setup, with the 50-year-old leading the England Under-21s to European glory last year. He has been part of the Football Association’s coaching staff since 2015 and if his audition goes well against Finland this week he may just claim the coveted prize of being named as England’s next permanent manager.
Carsley was placed in temporary charge of the Three Lions in August following Gareth Southgate’s resignation
(Image: Getty Images)
Carsley, who was born in Birmingham but represented the Republic of Ireland at senior international level, has remained steadfast on his reasons bhind not singing the national anthem. He previously said: “This (singing the anthem) is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland. “The gap between your warm-up, you’re coming on to the pitch and the delay with the anthems. So it’s something that I have never done. I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game. I really found that in that period I was wary about my mind wandering off.” Carsley’s decision has seemed to left the nation divided, with many Three Lions fans voicing their disgust over the admission, whilst others have justified his reasoning.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnIn the NewsEuros
