Euro 2020

Gareth Southgate: 'Fan backing will be key to England future'

| 28 June 2021

Gareth Southgate: 'Fan backing will be key to England future'

The former defender led the Three Lions on a memorable run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018.

Gareth Southgate appreciates the Football Association's support but says the backing of fans will be key to him staying on as England manager beyond next year's World Cup.

The former defender led the Three Lions on a memorable run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and third place at the following year's Nations League finals in Portugal.

Southgate is now looking to take England to even greater heights, with the European Championship knockout phase kicking off for them against Germany in Tuesday's eagerly-anticipated last-16 clash.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said this week he would like the manager to extend his stay beyond the 2022 World Cup in Qatar regardless of what happens but Southgate knows it is not that simple.

Getting set for Germany 👊

Another session at St. George's Park complete for the #ThreeLions! pic.twitter.com/V29ZvvCquK

— England (@England) June 27, 2021

"Any manager is going to be grateful for total backing of the board and the chief executive," the 50-year-old said.

"From my perspective, that's a private conversation that I've had that support.

"But in the end, internal backing is important, but in this role in particular external backing is just as important and I always think to discuss contracts around tournaments in the past, hasn't been the right thing.

"We were certain we weren't going to do that before this tournament – we should see how this goes – so all my focus is on the game and getting this team as far as we possibly can."