Interim boss Lee Carsley says the England job is one the best in football but claims not to have given much thought to potentially becoming Gareth Southgate's permanent successor.
The national team are beginning a new chapter six weeks after Southgate called time on his eight-year reign having overseen a narrow defeat in a second straight European Championship final.
The Football Association’s recruitment process for the next senior team manager is ongoing, leading to England Under-21s boss Carsley’s temporary promotion to senior team manager.
Southgate impressed in that role having initially stepped up from the U21s on an interim basis, but the former Republic of Ireland international says this will not necessarily be the same.
"I don’t think by any means it’s a blueprint that just because you did the U21s you’re in a perfect position to take the senior team," Carsley said.
"Ultimately this is up there with the best jobs in football.
"We’ve potentially got a unique period of time, which will pass, where we’ve got some outstanding players, some really good talent, someone needs to get the absolute best out of them.
"And we have done so far because we’ve got to the latter stage of tournaments, we’ve been so close. The best person for the job will do it."
Carsley sees himself as a "safe pair of hands" for this autumn’s Nations League fixtures, which kick off away to Ireland on 7 September before a Wembley clash with Finland.
The 50-year-old’s excitement about taking charge of England was clear during Thursday’s squad announcement but he constantly skirted around questions about whether he wants the permanent post.
"To be honest I’ve not thought about it that much," Carsley said. "Honestly I’ve not.
"My priority is just doing a good job. The best person, whoever it is out there, whether it’s me or not, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
"I was really – and still am – proud of being the U21s head coach. I love that job. It’s a great job.
"I’ve got a great squad, a great group of staff. If this was to end as soon as I walked out the door I’d be more than happy handing it over to whoever.
"I understand my objectives for the next three months and that’s to do as well as we can in the Nations League."
Carsley says he has not been asked by the FA if he wants a job that had been advertised on its website with a deadline of 2 August.
The weblink now says "we are no longer accepting applications for this position".
The former midfielder – named interim boss on 9 August – has held various coaching roles across England’s development teams and became the U21s head coach in July 2021, leading them to European Championship glory last year.
In terms of the FA’s work to recruit Southgate’s full-time successor, Carsley said: "I am not aware of the processes.
"The last two weeks have been pretty hectic so I have got on with this rather than worry about what their process will be.
"But they will be thorough as they always are. If the under-21s recruitment process is anything to go by, it was difficult to get the job. To get there in the end was a big thing."
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