by Gareth Southgate intends to stay on as England manager until the end of the 2024 European Championships.
Sky Sports News has confirmed newspaper reports that Southgate are ‘convinced’ he should stay and will advise the FA of his decision before Christmas.
Southgate has told FA bosses he needs time to think about his future after England pulled out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals to defending champions France.
“These tournaments ask a lot of you,” Southgate said after England’s exit, “we’ve done it after every tournament and it’s the right thing to do. I don’t want to be four, five months later in thinking I’ve made the wrong call. It’s too important for everyone to be wrong.”
No English manager has more tournament wins
After conversations with his family, it is understood Southgate is confident he should remain in charge of England and will see out his contract until the conclusion of the European Championship in Germany in 2024.
Since taking charge in 2016, Southgate guided England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020 before reaching the last eight at Qatar 2022.
‘No obvious successor to Southgate’
Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:
“If Southgate left now it would leave the FA in a very difficult position.
“Their next game is in March against Italy in Napoli, an incredibly tough match that could define England’s qualification for Euro 2024. That’s why they needed a decision from Southgate quite quickly. They weren’t going to pressure him, they were going to give him time to make up his own mind.
“It’s good news for the English players who I think will be very relieved. The vast majority of them, if not all, wanted him to stay because of the atmosphere he created within the club. group and the success it has helped bring to the field.
Southgate have recorded the best possession stats
“What has been very clear to the FA is that there is no obvious successor to Southgate, which is partly why they are so desperate for him to stay, and partly because he did a great job taking England to a World Cup semi-final, quarter-final and Euros final.
He really is an FA man, he understands, works and flourishes within the structure. There is no obvious successor. By committing to England, Southgate is giving the FA time to finalize those succession plans.”
Neville: Southgate should stay on
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Gary Neville thinks England played well and were never favorites to beat France and thinks Gareth Southgate should stay for another tournament
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:
“Actually, I hope he doesn’t go back to managing the club. I look at him and I think there’s no Englishman alive who has more experience in major tournaments, junior tournaments and play for his country. He’s seen it all and I think he should be kept in the system to design the future.
“He’s been there for 10 years, we’ve had a lot of success with the women’s teams, with the younger teams, and I think we’ve had very good success with the men’s team, and I feel like he has seen this improvement in performance and culture over 10 years. I would like him to stay with the FA beyond his coaching role.
“Gareth is an honest man with great integrity who will make the decision that is right for him and the FA. I feel like 18 months is good and Gareth doing this next tournament, maybe knowing that ‘there is a succession plan in place, would feel right to me.’
