Southgate ‘set to’ end stint as England boss and FA identify City’s Guardiola as ‘dream appointment’

Lewis Oldham 05 Sep 2023 9:12 AM

England manager — Gareth Southgate and Pep Guardiola.

According to reports, Gareth Southgate is ‘set’ to end his stint as England head coach after next summer’s European Championships.

The 53-year-old became England’s manager in 2016 after previously managing their U21 side for three years.

This appointment was criticised at the time but Southgate has hugely surpassed expectations as Three Lions boss. Under him, England have reached the final of the European Championships and semi-final of the World Cup.

England were knocked out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage last winter as they were dumped out of the tournament by France.

Southgate admitted in the aftermath of this tournament that he was considering his future but he ended up committing his future to England and he’s now preparing for next summer’s Euros.

But The Daily Mail are reporting that the England boss is ‘set to walk’ after the Euros. They add.

‘The prospect of Gareth Southgate departing the England hotseat is not the elephant in the room it once was.

‘FA chiefs are conscious of the uncertainty and taking seriously the possibility that Southgate will saunter into the sunset after next summer’s European Championship in Germany.

‘There were similar vibes before last year’s World Cup when Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino were all considered in the event of Southgate standing down.

‘The dream appointment of some at the FA is Pep Guardiola — an option officials are open to exploring.’

It is noted that Southgate’s contract expires at the end of 2024 and while ‘Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and Brendan Rodgers are likely to remain viable options, FA officials are also keen on testing the water with Guardiola’. The report continues.

‘The Manchester City manager’s deal expires in 2025 — 12 months after Euro 2024. That provides an obstacle to the FA, as would his wages for an organisation still clawing back Covid losses of up to £300million.

‘But Guardiola’s public support for Catalan independence may create political barriers which stop him being offered the Spain job. And having managed City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, where else is there for him to go? The FA can offer him one place.

‘That said, we shouldn’t rule out Southgate staying until the 2026 World Cup. The expectation was that he would leave after Qatar, but he opted not to walk — though one well-placed source believes Southgate would have quit had he been offered an attractive job.

‘Southgate, who welcomed his players to St George’s Park on Monday ahead of Saturday’s game against Ukraine, has taken great pride in leading the national team.

‘He has been good at it, too. Yet there is a realisation that the set-up needs refreshing.’

Manchester City England