GARETH SOUTHGATE may well be taking charge of his final tournament as the England manager.
The Three Lions boss, 53, has had a long tenure in charge of the national team but may well leave after this tournament – no matter how well England perform.
Gareth Southgate first took charge of the England senior team on a temporary basis after Sam Allardyce resigned.
That was on September 27, 2016, having previously been the Under-21s manager for three years.
His first four matches were while he was a caretaker, winning against Malta and Scotland and drawing with Spain and Slovenia.
Southgate’s spell as caretaker ended on November 15, when he was named the permanent manager, signing an initial four-year deal.
Southgate has been England manager for almost eight years.
Euro 2024 will be his fourth tournament in charge of the Three Lions.
His first tournament was the 2018 World Cup, where England reached the semi-final – their best performance at a World Cup 1990.
Southgate also lead the side to the final of Euro 2020, at Wembley, but the Three Lions were left heartbroken as Italy won the trophy.
At the 2022 World Cup, England lost at the quarter-final stage to eventual runners-up France.
Southgate is arguably the best manager England have had since Alf Ramsey in the 1960s and 70s.
He will takeover Sir Bobby Robson’s 95 matches in charge during Euro 2024 and his current 61.1 per cent win rate is exactly level with Ramsey’s.
Only Fabio Capello has a better winning percentage in England history, although the Italian only took charge for 42 matches and could only reach the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup.
