Abiodun Jimoh
England Football Association has confirmed Gareth Southgate as the country’s permanent manager on a four-year contract that would take him through 2018 World Cup and 2020 European Championship campaigns.
Previously head coach of the England under-21 team, Southgate took interim charge of the senior squad during the last four games following Allardyce’s resignation in September in the aftermath of undercover newspaper revelations.
England beat Malta 2-0 and Scotland 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Slovenia in World Cup qualifiers, before drawing with Spain in a friendly in the four games with Southgate as caretaker, and now sit two points clear of second-placed Slovenia in Group F.
“I am extremely proud to be appointed England manager. However, I’m also conscious that getting the job is one thing, now I want to do the job successfully.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the players over these past four games and I think there’s huge potential. I’m determined to give everything I have to give the country a team that they’re proud of and one that they’re going to enjoy watching play and develop. For me, the hard work starts now.” Southgate said
Southgate was interviewed by a five-man FA panel at St George’s Park, the National Football Centre, last week, despite being the only candidate considered by the organisation.
“We are delighted to confirm Gareth as England manager. He’s obviously somebody we know well but it’s his understanding of international football and the development set-up at St. George’s Park that is important.
“He performed extremely well during the four games he was in temporary charge and he impressed us during a tough interview process.
“Gareth is a great ambassador for what The FA stands for, he’s a very good football tactician and a leader but beneath that he’s a winner and that’s an important part of the job.” chief executive, Martin Glenn added.
Capped 57 times at senior level by England during a nine-year international career, Southgate would take charge of the team as full-time manager for the first time in a friendly against world champions, Germany in Dortmund on March 22, 2017.
Southgate would then oversee the resumption of England’s World Cup qualification campaign with a Wembley fixture against Lithuania four days later.
He joined the FA as head of elite development in January 2011 before taking over as head coach of under-21s in August 2013.
In that role, he guided his side to two U21 Euro finals and won the Toulon Tournament last summer.
