MICHAEL CARRICK claims English coaches have to ‘earn the right’ to be considered for jobs like the England manager’s position.

There was an outcry in some quarters earlier this week when the Football Association turned to a German, Thomas Tuchel, to succeed Gareth Southgate as England’s new permanent boss.

It has been argued, by some, that the England manager should be English, with commentators, former players and a large number of England supporters bemoaning the lack of opportunities afforded to domestic coaches.

Only one of the current top 14 clubs in the Premier League are led by an Englishman – Newcastle, with Eddie Howe – while Harry Redknapp was the last English manager to win a major domestic trophy in his homeland courtesy of Portsmouth’s victory in the 2008 FA Cup final.

It has been claimed that the FA should be doing more to encourage and support the promotion of English bosses, but while he admits he would like to see more of his compatriots leading the country’s biggest clubs, Carrick maintains that jobs should only be awarded on merit.

“Being a coach is just like playing, really,” said the Middlesbrough boss, who was awarded his first head coach position at the Riverside after spending time in the backroom ranks at Manchester United. “Whatever it is, it comes down to what you are achieving really.

“Just like being a player, you need a chance, an opportunity to go play on a stage, just like I’m in a position now to be able to give younger players opportunities, and of course as a manager and coach that’s one of the stages of it.

“But what’s right or wrong? There’s not a duty on anyone really. It’s up to every club, really, to pick who they want as players and managers. And in the end, you have to be good enough.

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“It would be nice if there were more (English coaches) at the top level for sure, and over time, hopefully that will happen. But you’ve got to earn it.”

Tuchel is the third overseas manager to be appointed as England boss, following in the footsteps of Sven Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

Carrick played under both Eriksson and Capello, so it well placed to speak about the experience of wearing the England shirt while playing under a foreign manager.

The former midfielder experienced mixed fortunes during his time as an England player, often finding himself frozen out of the first-choice XI, but he is adamant that the nationality of the manager was never an issue or consideration.

“I played under two (foreign coaches),” said the Boro boss. “Sven gave me my debut and then Fabio after that.

“From a player’s point of view, when you are playing for your country, you are representing yourself, your family and your nation, and you give what you can.

“I think that there is a respect for the coach, manager and staff, and then you’ve got your own responsibility and duty to try and perform. I don’t think that really changes (wherever the manager is from).”

Carrick is immensely proud of the 34 senior caps he won as an England player, and further down the line, there is a chance he will be considered for the England manager’s job if he continues to enhance the reputation he has begun to establish with Middlesbrough.

For now, he will watch the national side as an England fan, and is hoping Tuchel can build on the impressive foundations laid by former Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who took the national side to two Euros finals and a World Cup semi-final during his time in charge.

“As an Englishman, I fully support the team and the manager, and I hope that he does really well,” he said. “The FA have had a decision to make. They’ve made that, and good luck to them.”