England legend Geoff Hurst says team can win next World Cup with Guardiola or Klopp as manager

The last surviving England star to win the World Cup says we have the players to do it again, and or should be the manager.

World Cup final hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst, 82, thinks England has so much talent, particularly in attack, that 2026 could be the team’s year. He said: “If they continue to mature, it wouldn’t surprise me if we were successful in the next World Cup competition. We’ve got the best bunch of fantastic young players.”

Sir Geoff, promoting his book, Last Boy of ‘66, at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, did not name individual stars. But when asked about , 21, he said: “I think he’s absolutely a fantastic player and going out to and doing what he’s doing in a foreign country at that age is just astonishing.”

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The ex-striker said former boss Klopp or current Man City manager Guardiola should replace , who quit in July. He said: “You’ve got to pick managers that are as successful at club level as they’ve been.” Geoff pointed out that England’s boss in 1966, Sir Alf Ramsey, had won the championship with Ipswich Town.

But Geoff is not a complete fan of the modern game, finding it “a lot more cautious”. He said: “In some of the matches, international and club level, it can be a little bit boring.” Asked what lessons the current England side could take from 1966 team, so they can win a tournament, Sir Geoff jokingly replied: “Cross the f***ing ball more.”

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