Southgate to lead England through next World Cup and Euros after signing new contract

Gareth Southgate has extended his deal as England manager through to December 2024.

Should he complete the deal, it will mean the former defender will have been in charge of the Three Lions for eight years – the longest serving manager since Sir Bobby Robson in the 1980s.

Southgate, and his assistant Steve Holland, both 51, signed to extend their contracts ahead of the World Cup in Qatar next year.

The pair’s tenure managing the squad has seen England reach the World Cup semi-final in 2018, and the final of Euro 2020 earlier this year.

Following the announcement, Southgate said: “I am delighted that Steve and I have been able to extend our stay in our respective roles. It remains an incredible privilege to lead this team.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark [Bullingham, FA CEO), John [McDermott, FA technical director] and the board for their support – and of course the players and support team for their hard work.

“We have a great opportunity in front of us and I know they and the fans are all excited about what this squad could achieve in future.”

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The FA said in a statement: “Southgate, who marks five years in charge at the end of this month, has overseen a period of positive progress guiding England to a FIFA World Cup semi-final and UEFA Nations League third place before securing the best men’s performance in 55 years with the UEFA Euro final this summer.

“The new deal means Southgate and his assistant Holland will lead England to the 2022 World Cup, for which qualification was secured earlier this month, before taking the team through qualifying for the 2024 Euro, which starts in March 2023.”

Reacting to the news, former England and Chelsea captain John Terry said: “Great news for @England I love what Gareth & Steve Holland are doing.”

There’s a clear line of progress if you look back at the five years Gareth Southgate has had in charge of England.

The days of Sven Goran Eriksson and the WAGS, Steve McLaren’s umbrella, the hard-line regime of Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson’s defeat to Iceland all seem a long time ago.

Southgate has led England with honesty, integrity and values. The results have shown that it has worked.

A World Cup semi-final in 2018, third in the Nations League and the biggest moment in English men’s football since 1966 – missing out on penalties in the final of the Euros last summer.

More than the results though Southgate has created a side that has been (more often than not) a credit to the nation – exactly what a national team should be.

The World Cup in Qatar is now just a year away and Southgate has the security of knowing that the work he has done transforming England football has been recognised by another big contract.

Under Southgate they will be contenders – that’s what he has achieved.

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