Gareth Southgate has suggested that Euro 2024 success could well see him extend his tenure as England manager. Initially brought in as a caretaker boss in 2016 following Sam Allardyce’s exit, the 52-year-old led the side to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and third place in the following year’s Nations League.
England were agonisingly close to winning the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, only to lose on penalties to Italy. Italy are today's opponents as the Euro 2024 qualification stages get under way. It was widely reported at the time that Southgate had contemplated walking away in the wake of December’s World Cup quarter-final exit to France, but has reportedly been reinvigorated by next year’s shot at success in Germany.
Asked if the Euros represented his final chance, Southgate said: “Well, that depends if we win. I think you have to be careful as a player not to assume when you’re younger that this might not be your last chance as well. Of course you’re always going to think you’re going to have other opportunities, but injury, form, new players coming through in your position — you can never take that for granted.
