Gareth Southgate’s future as the manager of the England national football team is under scrutiny as his contract runs until December, and he has expressed doubts about continuing if the team does not succeed at Euro 2024.
Southgate, who has led the Three Lions since 2016, has hinted at resigning if the team falls short in the upcoming tournament. Despite this, recent reports indicate that the Football Association (FA) has unwavering support for Southgate and has not developed a succession plan in case he decides to step down.
Interestingly, Southgate was briefly linked to the Manchester United managerial position earlier this month. However, the club decided to retain Erik ten Hag, and no official approach for Southgate was made.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham confirmed that no clubs have inquired about Southgate’s availability. He emphasized that the FA is prepared for any potential departure, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
Bullingham explained, “There have been no approaches. Any organization has a succession plan for their top employees, and we are no different.
This plan includes short-term cover and a process for identifying candidates. We have this in place for our top employees.” He added that Southgate has been clear about discussing his future only after the tournament, aiming to avoid distractions for the team.
While Southgate is focused on achieving success at Euro 2024, Bullingham clarified that the FA has not imposed a win-or-sack mandate on him. “I understand why people want a clear benchmark, but you can’t set an arbitrary target for any tournament with any manager. You could progress further but play poorly or face an unlucky result. We evaluate everything after the tournament,” Bullingham stated.
Bullingham expressed high regard for Southgate, acknowledging his significant contributions to the England team. “I think the world of Gareth. He has done a phenomenal job and transformed the fortunes of our men’s senior team. This transformation is evident both off and on the pitch. Since 1966, he has won about half of our knockout games, which is a key measure we use. We value him massively,” he said.
Under Southgate’s leadership, England has seen considerable success, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020. His tenure has been marked by a shift in team culture and improved performances, earning him widespread respect within the FA and among fans.
As England prepares to kick off their Euro 2024 campaign on Sunday against Serbia, followed by matches against Denmark and Slovenia in the group stage, the focus remains on the immediate task at hand.
Southgate’s future may hinge on the team’s performance in this tournament, but for now, the FA and the players are firmly behind him, aiming for glory and hoping to build on the progress made in recent years.
