Lee Carsley has set his sights on an unprecedented achievement, challenging England's Under-21s to secure a third consecutive European Championship title following their dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Germany in Bratislava on Saturday night.
The Three Lions successfully defended their European Championship crown with a thrilling victory that required extra time to separate the two sides.
Jonathan Rowe emerged as the hero, netting the decisive goal after Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson had established a 2-0 advantage in the first half.
"I'm proud of the players, the commitment they've shown over the last 28 days and all the instruction we've tried to put into them so quickly, they've taken it on board," Carsley told Channel 4 post-match.
Lee Carsley has set his sights on an unprecedented achievement, challenging England's Under-21s to secure a third consecutive European Championship title following their dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Germany in Bratislava on Saturday night
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The manager, who recently extended his contract through to the 2027 European Under-21 Championship, emphasised the squad's winning mentality - while also making a minor complaint about their performance on the night.
"They've got so much belief, we spoke about it when we were at St George's that this squad believe that they can win and that's the kind of players we need," he added.
"I didn't think we played great tonight, I thought we sat a little bit too deep and didn't have as much control as I would've wanted, but we probably won't remember that in a couple of days."
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Jonathan Rowe was the hero as England Under-21s beat Germany to secure Euro 2025 glory
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Elliott's exceptional performances throughout the tournament earned him the player of the tournament award, marking a remarkable achievement for the Liverpool midfielder.
The Reds youngster was one of just two survivors from England's victorious campaign in Georgia two years ago, alongside defender Charlie Cresswell.
The Young Lions demonstrated their resilience after suffering a group stage defeat to Germany, bouncing back impressively in the knockout rounds.
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They eliminated Spain and the Netherlands before gaining revenge over Germany in the final, with the senior team's new manager Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands.
"Any setback we've had, the players have just got together. I think I said at the start of the tournament, the longer we stay in, the better we play," Carsley reflected.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham paid tribute to Carsley's remarkable impact on the Under-21s programme, highlighting the transformation under his leadership.
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"I am sure Lee will be humble about what he and the group have achieved but he should be recognised for this special achievement," Bullingham said.
"Before Lee took over, we hadn't won this trophy for 39 years. In two tournament cycles he has won it twice."
Lee Carsley has made history after steering England Under-21s to Euro 2025 glory on Saturday night
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Carsley, who temporarily managed the senior England team before Thomas Tuchel's appointment last year, has already turned his attention to making history.
"We spoke a lot about the position where potentially we'll go for three, so I'm definitely looking forward to that. It's a great target to go for. I don't think it's been done yet," he said.
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