Gareth Southgate 'to stay on as England manager until 2024'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 17 December 2022

Gareth Southgate reportedly decides to stay on as England manager until 2024 following the Three Lions' quarter-final exit from the World Cup.

Gareth Southgate will honour his England contract and remain in charge of the Three Lions until 2024, according to a report.

The 52-year-old's future with the national team has been shrouded in uncertainty since England's World Cup 2022 quarter-final exit at the hands of holders France.

Southgate is under contract with England until the end of 2024, but he admitted before the World Cup that his contract would not protect him from the sack should the Three Lions under-perform.

Following England's elimination, Southgate admitted that he would need some time to reflect on his World Cup and would not be rushed into a quick decision, telling reporters: "I've found large parts of the last 18 months difficult.

"For everything that I've loved about the last few weeks, I still have ... how things have been for 18 months. What's been said and what's been written. The night at Wolves. There's lots of things in my head that's really conflicted at the moment.

England manager Gareth Southgate pictured on December 4, 2022 © Reuters

"What I want to make sure, if it's the right thing to stay, is that I've definitely got the energy to do that. I don't want to be four or five months down the line thinking: 'I've made the wrong call.' It's too important for everybody to get that wrong."

The FA are believed to have complete faith in Southgate's work with a young England team, and Sky Sports News now claims that the former Middlesbrough coach will remain in his position for another two years.

The report adds that Southgate has pencilled in Euro 2024 as his final tournament in charge of England and will inform the FA of his decision before Christmas.

Southgate is understood to have engaged in crucial discussions with his family over the role, and he has been left "convinced" that he should remain in control of the reins.

Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino were mentioned as potential successors to Southgate, but the ex-England defender is seemingly set to surpass the eight-year mark in charge of the Three Lions.

England manager Gareth Southgate on September 23, 2022 © Reuters

After working as England's academy manager before a three-year spell in charge of the country's Under-21s, Southgate assumed the role of England head coach in September 2016 following Sam Allardyce's acrimonious early exit.

The 52-year-old has won 52, drawn 15 and lost 15 of his 82 games in charge of England in that time, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the Euro 2020 final.

Southgate is one of only two England men's managers to have reached a major tournament final alongside Alf Ramsey, while only Bobby Robson has also taken the Three Lions to a semi-final at the Euros or World Cup.

England will take on reigning champions Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C, which begins with a clash against the Azzurri on March 23.

The next edition of the continental tournament takes place in Germany between June 14 and July 14, 2024.