Gareth Southgate, the manager of the England national football team, has postponed contract talks until after the Euro 2024 tournament. Southgate’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the year, but the Football Association (FA) is keen for him to continue leading the team into the 2026 World Cup. Southgate, however, wants to focus on the upcoming Euros and is open to discussing a new deal if England were to win the tournament.
Southgate expressed his excitement about the possibility of celebrating a Euro 2024 victory at Trafalgar Square. He stated, “We would have to sit and think about that at the end of the tournament. I’m happy to talk about it briefly now but I’m not going to talk about what’s next for the whole summer.” The manager explained that he and the team have consciously avoided any discussions about his future, as signing a new contract before the tournament could put unnecessary pressure on the players.
The FA fully supports Southgate and wants him to continue in his role, which he has held since 2016. However, Southgate believes that signing a deal before the Euros could negatively affect the team’s performance. He said, “The team need the clearest run possible at this tournament, so my job is to remove pressure where possible.” While acknowledging that there will always be some pressure as one of the favorites, Southgate emphasized that he doesn’t want to add any additional strain on the players.
Southgate’s decision to postpone contract talks is also influenced by past experiences. He mentioned Fabio Capello, a former England manager who signed a new contract before a major tournament but failed to deliver results. Southgate wants to avoid a similar situation and believes that focusing solely on the Euros without distractions will benefit the team’s performance.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Southgate remains optimistic and confident in England’s abilities. He mentioned the possibility of the team “stinking the place out,” but quickly dismissed it, stating, “I don’t think we will stink the place out, though.” Southgate is fully committed to leading England to success and hopes that the team’s journey ends with a celebration at Trafalgar Square.
In conclusion, Gareth Southgate has postponed contract talks until after the Euro 2024 tournament. The England manager wants to focus on the upcoming Euros and believes that signing a new deal before the tournament could add unnecessary pressure on the team. While the FA wants him to continue in his role, Southgate is open to discussing a new contract if England were to win the tournament. He remains optimistic about England’s chances and dreams of celebrating a victory at Trafalgar Square.