FA ‘determined’ to convince Gareth Southgate to stay until World Cup 2026 even if England lose Euro 2024 final vs Spain
THE FA will attempt to persuade Gareth Southgate to stay on as England manager – even if he fails to bring home the Euro 2024 trophy.
England booked a spot in the Euros final with a 2-1 win over Holland on Wednesday.
They will now face Spain on Sunday, with a huge prize up for grabs.
If England beat Luis de la Fuente’s side in Berlin, they will secure their first men’s major title in 58 years.
But even if they don’t, Southgate could keep his job as manager.
According to The Times, the FA are desperate to keep him on board regardless of the result.
Southgate’s current contract expires in December, but FA chief executive Mark Bullingham plans to hold fresh talks with him at the end of Euro 2024.
Any new deal would take him through to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico – which would mark his 10th year in the job.
It was previously suggested that Southgate, who has overseen 101 games, could step down after this summer’s tournament.
The 53-year-old himself has also insisted he does not want to outstay his welcome.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Fans began growing frustrated with him during the Euro 2024 group stages following England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia.
Some supporters even threw beer cups at him from the stands in Cologne.
However, the mood among fans has grown more positive as the tournament has progressed and the players have continued to back him throughout.
Following England’s last-16 win over Slovakia, Declan Rice said: “There’s that inner-fight and spirit in us, a few Slovakian players before the game said we didn’t have.
“We’ve got that togetherness. We proved that tonight.
“We’ll die for each other out there. We’ll do anything to protect this manager, to protect each other.
“Keep going, keep fighting. And what we’ve got as a group tonight I think showed out there.
“It’s an honour to be a part of it. We’re going to keep going, we’re going to keep giving it everything.”
Were Southgate to leave his role, it’d see England having to find their first new manager since 2016.
Former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter is the current favourite with bookies to replace him should that happen.
Other names in the frame include Eddie Howe, Mauricio Pochettino and Frank Lampard.
Perfect England
Southgate admits England have to be “perfect” to beat Spain in the final on Sunday.
He said: “They have won a few trophies. They are a bloody good side. Let’s pitch it right. We have got to be perfect to win this game and we will have to find everything that we have got from within us.
“We have got players who have played lots of big matches so they will know what is required on the night but in the next couple of days we have got to get perfectly prepared as it is such a quick turnaround.”
It will be England’s second successive European Championship final.
The Three Lions faced Italy in the Euro 2020 final three years ago, but lost on penalties.