Gary Neville calls for Gareth Southgate to ‘come out in the next couple of days’ and put talk on his future to bed but the Three Lions boss is preparing to sit down with the FA in early January’ to decide his future as England manager
Gary Neville has called for England manager Gareth Southgate to put an end to speculation over his future and declare what his immediate plans are.
Neville believes it would ‘not be fair for the FA’ if the uncertainty should continue long into the new year, but believes that Southgate will come to a conclusion that is right both for himself and the Football Association.
It has been reported that Southgate is preparing to sit down with the FA and discuss his future in January, although many have called for him to continue in his role as Three Lions boss after a period of success since taking over in 2016.
Gary Neville has called for Gareth Southgate to put the speculation over his future to bed
In a video posted by Football Daily, Neville said: ‘I think Gareth needs to come out in the next couple of days and put it to bed, and just say “I’m staying,” or “I’m not,” because I don’t think it goes into the new year because we’ve got games in March I think, and I don’t think that’s fair for the FA, because they need to find a successor.
‘Gareth obviously is honest, a man with great integrity and he’ll make the decision that is right for him, and right for the FA as well – he’ll do the right thing.
‘It feels to me like 18 months is right, and that they’re doing this next tournament with Gareth knowing there’s a succession plan in place, it would feel right to me.’
Southgate has guided England to at least the last eight in the last three major tournaments
Southgate has guided England to at least the last eight in three successive major tournaments – the semi-finals at Russia 2018, the final of Euro 2020 and the quarter-finals of Qatar 2022.
He now has the record for most wins in major tournaments as England manager, and has overseen a period of success that has also allowed the nation’s younger stars to shine on the big stage.
England crashed out at the quarter-final stage in Qatar after losing 2-1 to France
But after an exit at the last eight against world champions France, Southgate was noncommittal on his future with the team, and talk has since turned to whether or not he will see out the remainder of his contract, which expires at the end of 2024.
However the FA will want to have some idea of Southgate’s intentions soon, given that the qualification campaign for Euro 2024 is fast approaching, with their opening game against Italy coming up in March.
‘I actually hope he doesn’t go back into club management,’ Neville said. ‘I think that Gareth’s future – look, he’ll decide his own future – but for me there’s no English person alive who’s got more experience of major tournaments, junior tournaments, or youth tournaments, and played for his country.
‘He’s seen it all Gareth, and I think he should be kept inside the system to design the future. He’s been there for 10 years, we’ve had great success with the women’s team, we’ve had great success with the younger teams, I think we’ve had relatively really good success with the men’s team.
‘I feel like he’s seen that over 10 years the improvement in performance, and that performance and culture have improved. I’d like him to stay with the FA beyond his contract.’
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