Southgate’s plotting for future glory with England
GARETH Southgate is excited for the future with England and expects them to be ‘competitive for years to come’.
Southgate, who is celebrating five years in charge of the Three Lions, recently signed a two-year contract extension to keep him in the role until December 2024.
His spell so far has been an overwhelming success, having taken over a team in turmoil following two disappointing tournaments and the quickfire sackings of Roy Hodgson and Sam Allardyce.
After making the last four at the 2018 World Cup, the 51-year-old took England to their first major final in 55 years at Euro 2020 before losing on penalties against Italy.
Now with the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 to look forward to, he is targeting silverware.
“I remember five years ago, when the opportunity first came, talking about what we would like to do with the team and ideas about how we’d like to work,” he said.
“The last five years have been a fantastic challenge, we have created some great memories for England fans. We are hugely excited about what we are doing and what we have done.
“It was important to get qualified (for the World Cup) so that was all out of the way and there was never a suggestion our focus was somewhere else.
“In the end that is the dream. We feel we can continue to grow. England should be competitive for years to come.
“To take a country to its first final in 55 years, for everybody involved, all of the staff, all of the players and all of the fans, some of those memories this summer will live with me forever,” he added. “In Russia we brought a connection back with the fans. We have got some generations of fan who always think it’s been this way. Let me tell you it hasn’t.”