Lee in Sky Blue Action
This time last year we sent congratulations to our member Lee Carsley, former Sky Blue midfielder, Head Coach of the England U21 team since July 2021 for managing his charges all the way to last year’s Euro U21 Final (2025)!
England U21s did this by beating the Netherlands U21 2-1 on this day last year in a close fought Semi Final victory thanks to a brace from Liverpool‘s Harvey Elliott having beaten Spain 3-1 in the quarter-final of the competition.
Brooke Norton-Cuffey in the Sky Blue
In Bratislava, former recent CCFC loanee Brooke Norton-Cuffy was brought on by Lee as a 78th minute substitute for England whilst the Dutch played another former City loanee in Ian Maatsen for the whole ninety plus minutes. As a side note former City midfielder Joe Cole was working as a commentator for Channel 4 who broadcast the whole game.
Ian Maatsen in the Sky Blue
The Young Lions went on to defend the title they won under Lee the previous year in last year’s Final which took place the following Saturday evening (June 28th) also in Bratislava. They faced old foes Germany who won the other semifinal emphatically 3-0 against France. Carso’s
England youngsters needed to gain revenge after losing 2-1 to the Germans in the Group stages where they finished second in Group B (after a 3-1 win over Czechia and a goalless draw with Slovenia). This they got with an exceedingly close and hard fought 3-2 extra time victory. The young Germans’ Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel clawed back England‘s two goal advantage thanks to Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson Substitute Jonathan Rowe netted England U21‘s winner with an extra time header to seal the tournament title win (for the second successive year)!
Lee & Aidy Boothroys in their Sky Blue managerial days
If you needed reminding Lee had a distinguished footballing career with parent club Derby County (from 1992); Blackburn Rovers (1999); CCFC (2000); Everton (2002); Birmingham City (2008) and CCFC (for a second time 2010-11). ‘Carso’ scored five goals in his 55 Sky Blue games in his first spell from December 2000 to February 2002 plus another 25 appearances in his second time with CCFC – his last season as a player. Lee gained 40 Caps for the Republic of Ireland between 1997-2008.
Billy Bell presents Lee with his official CCFPA tie on the stage of Lady Gs in 2014
On hanging up his boots Lee began as an U18 Coach with the Sky Blues from July 2011 and was CCFC caretaker manager twice in 2012 and 2013 before assisting the management team at Sheffield United (2013) prior to beginning his England coaching career with the U19s in 2015.
Lee & CCFC’s then England U18 James Maddison
Coaching roles at Brentford (2014), Manchester City (2016) and Birmingham City (2017) followed before Lee became embedded in the England set-up as successively Head Coach of the U20s (2020), the Under 21s (2021) and the Senior Team (as interim manager from August 2024- Jan.2025) bridging the departure of Gareth Southgate and the arrival of Thomas Tuchel (who was at this game)
Lee’s team at GD22
Lee has been a ‘special guest’ at Sky Blue home games in the past and also participated in our recent Golf Days too.
We hope to see him back at the CBS Arena again before too long!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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