Qatar ’n LEAVE AT THE PEAK quit, Gareth
GARETH SOUTHGATE could name his own numbers when it comes to negotiating a new contract with the Football Association.
But whatever he might want, the price wouldn’t be right. Southgate’s stock is now so high that FA chief executive Mark Bullingham couldn’t even wait until the end of the Euros to make clear how desperate he is to get his prize asset into a golden handcuffs deal. Who can blame him?
Southgate has transformed the England team into one of the world’s best and restored a huge amount of pride and respect in a side that used to be ridiculed and mocked.
He’s led the Three Lions to a World Cup semi-final and now their first final of a major tournament in more than half a century.
But Southgate has achieved much more than just a bunch of positive results. He has overhauled the culture of the
England set-up,taught the players how to relish the challenge of representing their country instead of dreading it and reconnected them with the entire nation.
His work on and off the pitch has been outstanding, so no wonder Bullingham and his colleagues at the FA have been left drooling at what more might be to come from the man with the Midas touch.
But what the heck will Bullingham do if Southgate decides the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 will be his international swan song?
Who would be capable of filling Southgate’s shoes? And, more worryingly, who would even want to?
David Moyes (below) felt like he had no choice but to accept when Manchester United asked him to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Fergie had hand-picked him, after all, and the job was one he’d always dreamed of, but it turned into a nightmare because it proved too overwhelming.
Should Bullingham find himself having to draw up a list of possible candidates in 18 months, it could prove to be one of the shortest of all time.
And the chances are this scenario could happen, because
Southgate would be foolish to continue as Three Lions boss beyond his current £3m-a-year contract.
He looked spent in the wake of last weekend’s crushing loss to Italy in the Euros final and, following some rest and recuperation, will have to go again as he plots World Cup qualification and another assault on winning something for the first time since 1966.
The demands are huge and relentless for someone who will be approaching seven years in the job come Qatar in the winter of 2022.
Whatever happens in the Gulf state, the time would be right for Southgate to call it quits and focus on landing himself a leading club job.
This would allow him to work with top-class players on a daily basis instead of once every three or four months.
“I don’t want to commit to anything longer than I should,” said Southgate. “And I don’t want to outstay my welcome, so all of those things need consideration.”
It’s impossible to think Southgate would ever “outstay his welcome”, but it would risk him tainting the incredible work he’s already done – and we all know that the secret to gambling is quitting while you’re ahead.