The Football Association has confirmed that Gareth Southgate will remain as England head coach until the end of his contract. The former Middlesbrough manager’s deal does not expire until after Euro 2024, but he had recently spoken of bering “conflicted” over his future.
It was expected that Southgate would deliberate far longer. Reports had suggested his decision would not arrive until 2023, but it has now been confirmed the manager will see out the remainder of his contract.
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FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: "We are delighted to confirm that Gareth Southgate is continuing as England manager and will lead our Euro 2024 campaign.” He added ,”"Gareth and (assistant manager) Steve Holland have always had our full support, and our planning for the Euros starts now."
The news has seen a mixed response from fans. Many feel that Southgate’s outstanding record of achievement, including a World Cup semi final in 2018 and reaching the final of Euro 2020, justifies another crack at a major tournament. Others feel he has been rewarded for what they perceive as failure. That after three tournaments in which England left empty-handed, it is time to change tack.
Whichever side of the fence you reside on, the lack of alternatives to Southgate is an issue. There is a dearth of available English managers of sufficient quality to take on the role. Names like Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino have been raised, but England have shied away from appointing foreign coaches since Fabio Capello’s departure in 2012.
We polled followers of The Sportsman on Twitter, and 53.4% of you said the England manager does not have to necessarily be English. But it does seem to be a policy the FA are unofficially adhering to at the moment. Under-21s head coach Lee Carsley is rumoured to be in line for the top job. Southgate remaining in situ for another year and a half will give his career more time to gestate before taking the reins.
No England manager has ever had a 100% unified nation behind them. Sir Bobby Robson was scapegoated by the press on the eve of taking England to only the second World Cup semi final in their history in 1990. Even the gilded Sir Alf Ramsey had to listen to dissenting voices. You will never get every fan to agree that Southgate is the man for the job. But he’s the only man that will be doing the job until the summer of 2024.
There are reasons to be cheerful even for the most #SouthgateOut amongst you. Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka just lit up a World Cup aged 19 and 21 respectively. Phil Foden is just 22 while even relative golden oldies like Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford will only be 30 and 27 when the Euros kicks off. This is a squad that is still peaking, bolstered by a manager who knows them inside and out.
England might have gone out to France, but Les Bleus are on the verge of possibly winning back-to-back World Cups. Whether you love him or loathe him, that result is hardly a disaster. Rather, it can be an encouraging building block for the Euros. Whatever you think of Southgate, he is the England head coach. He’s now got a year and a half to secure his legacy.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
