GARETH SOUTHGATE has been told by FA chiefs they have full faith in his England leadership. Southgate was jeered by fans during last week’s chaotic 4-0 Nations League defeat by Hungary and faced questions over his future. Those were fuelled by the Three Lions boss admitted he would not “outstay my welcome” if he believed […]
GARETH SOUTHGATE has been told by FA chiefs they have full faith in his England leadership.
Southgate was jeered by fans during last week’s chaotic 4-0 Nations League defeat by Hungary and faced questions over his future.
Those were fuelled by the Three Lions boss admitted he would not “outstay my welcome” if he believed he had lost support, despite signing a new deal taking him up to Euro 2024.
But in a public vow of backing, FA chair Debbie Hewitt revealed she had sought out Southgate to let him know Wembley was completely behind him.
Hewitt said: “What happened last week is clearly part of football.
“But Gareth is, on the pitch, the most successful England manager that we have had in 55 years.
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“The facts are that he has taken us to a World Cup semi-final and then the final of the Euros.
“So the question of his contract is a bit of a red herring in a sense – because I don’t think we would be discussing it had we not had the recent series of games.
“Clearly we did that with proper discussion and thought.
“The fact that there’s been a stumble does not make us automatically say ‘should we have given him a contract?’.
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“We have confidence in Gareth and that’s the important thing. And it’s particularly important going into the biggest tournament.
“I have spoken to him, yes and his reaction, as in everything with that sort of conversation, was that it is his accountability, there’s always something to learn.
“That’s why it’s refreshing working with somebody like that because that openness to learn is quite remarkable and quite unusual in any sphere.
“The bit that people don’t see so much is Gareth in the camp and the culture he has created and the pride they have in playing for England.
“Prior to Gareth being appointed the manager of England there was not the pride of wearing the England shirt and there were the club rivalries that we would read about with players not getting on.
“He has changed that beyond recognition and I have seen that first-hand for myself.
“I would also say that I don’t just work in football. I work in business and I’ve worked with a lot of chief executives.
“Gareth’s skills, his high IQ and his high EQ, his emotional intelligence, would make him a chief executive in any sphere.
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“The two qualities I admire most about him is that he takes accountability – there are no slopey shoulders and he doesn’t huff – and his resilience.
“And that is what you want in an England manager.”
