Getting England’s top job caps the rise of Gareth Southgate
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It’s official, Gareth Southgate is the new England manager and in doing so has become just the 16th man in history to be placed in charge of the Three Lions. For the man himself, it completes a remarkable rise to the top.
Southgate will now oversee his country’s hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and the bid to make the 2020 European Championships.
After a distinguished career shoring up defences at Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, Southgate went into management with the latter after hanging up his boots in 2006.
Three years in charge of the Teesside outfit allowed Southgate to learn the nature of management, before coming the FA’s Head of Elite Development in 2011.
The 46-year-old left the post in 2012 after playing a key role in the development of the flagship St George’s Park, in addition to work with grass roots football and the Premier League.
Southgate then became England U21 manager in 2013, kicking off a sterling run with the squad.
In 33 matches under his watch, the U21s lost only three times, including a famous win in the Toulon tournament this summer.
And Southgate has left the U21s in good stead, having topped their group in qualifying for the 2017 U21 European Championships.
Handed the senior job on a temporary basis in October, the former centre-half has lead England to a pair of wins and two draws from four games.
Southgate will kick off his permanent tenure next March, when England host old rivals Germany.
That friendly is quickly followed by a World Cup 2020 qualifier against Lithuania, where Southgate will lead out the Three Lions at Wembley as official coach for the first time.
Congratulations Gareth, and good luck!
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