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World Cup 2018: Gareth Southgate's job is safe - Martin Glenn

Last updated on .From the section Englandcomments439

England looking forward to getting on with it - Southgate

England manager Gareth Southgate has been told his job is safe even if his side lose every game at next year's World Cup in Russia.

Southgate oversaw a successful qualification campaign for the finals, where England will face Belgium, Tunisia and Panama in the group stage.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn says the manager will retain his position "for the next few tournaments".

"We have a long-term plan. You've seen some of the fruits of it," Glenn said.

Southgate, 47, took charge of England on a permanent basis 12 months ago, signing a four-year contract.

"Long-term plans are hard to defend when the short-term results go against you," added Glenn, who was quoted in several national newspapers.

"He's not looking at Russia as a free pass. The World Cup's a really important staging post for our development, I think.

"We go out there wanting to win it but also being realistic. No-one wants to have a bad World Cup but we're confident he's the right guy to take us through for the next few tournaments."

England's future hopes have been buoyed by age-group successes this year, including Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup victories, and Glenn says having a long-term vision is the way forward.

"We're going to do it in a way that's sustainable," he said.

"We know that worked for the Germans and we know that worked for the Spanish, so we're just repeating things they've done with our own emphasis on it."

Spain were crowned 2010 World Cup and 2012 European champions during manager Vicente del Bosque's eight-year spell as manager, while Germany boss Joachim Low has been in the job 11 years during which time he has led them to 2014 World Cup victory and runner-up spot at the 2008 Euros.

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439 comments

  • Comment posted by jay1989, at 09:22 4 Dec 2017

    @10

    Problem is he is afraid to drop Joe Hart even though Hart has been an underachiever for some time now.

  • Comment posted by U16668012, at 09:07 4 Dec 2017

    This is the right strategy. The players (and the media!) need to know that Southgate is the boss. It removes the “blame the manager” option and gives him the authority to make the big calls - which might be necessary. England has a chronic problem with underachieving big name players, and we need a manager who’s not afraid to drop them.

  • Comment posted by redpirate, at 09:14 4 Dec 2017

    Who would want the job? Venables, Hoddle, Erikson, Capello, Allardyce, all good managers until a slow news day and the English press stir the pot. We get what we deserve. As long as hypocritical football supporters gleefully accept more and more average overseas players at their club and then moan that young, english talent is not getting a chance, what's the point.

  • Comment posted by Whiteside of 606, at 09:17 4 Dec 2017

    Seems like the right move to me.

    a. There aren't any obvious alternatives.
    b. Southgate has done ok given the players available.
    c. He's been involved in the setup that's producing success a youth levels.

    Give him a chance to develop a style of play and bring some of the youth players through.
    The barrier to future success is how much playing time those kids will get in the PL.

  • Comment posted by U16480336, at 09:18 4 Dec 2017

    The collective intelligence on this particular thread is embarrassing. Do you really believe the FA or Southgate don't care in the slightest what the results are next summer? Of course they do. All they are doing is giving Southgate the confidence to go into the tournament knowing that he can make big decisions and they will back him. That can only be a positive surely?

    Get behind your team!

  • Comment posted by Brummiedude, at 09:08 4 Dec 2017

    Happy with this as it is not a complete disaster. Hopefully this is the start of the FA putting into place a long term plan like Germany did after Euro 2000.

    A long term plan will not work if you keep chopping and changing the management.

  • Comment posted by DaveCoram, at 09:17 4 Dec 2017

    I hope Southgate would have the decency to resign, without waiting to be sacked, if England don't get out of that group - let alone lose all three!

  • Comment posted by groundhog44, at 09:36 4 Dec 2017

    In some ways this sounds like the dreaded vote of confidence given by a club chairman.

  • Comment posted by U16480336, at 09:28 4 Dec 2017

    International management contracts should be straight forward. One tournament at a time with clear expectations set out at the start of the qualifying campaign. If those expectations are met then you stay on for the next tournament. If they are not then then the position is reviewed. It really couldn't be more simple.

  • Comment posted by U16480336, at 11:03 4 Dec 2017

    @ 134

    "First and only world cup bet placed - England out at the group stages. Always my first bet, always the one that pays off."

    Considering 2014 was the first time England hadn't made it out of the group stages since you were old enough to bet, I'm not sure how it always pays off?

    You're obviously a really bad gambler and must be skint. I would find another hobby if I was you.

  • Comment posted by CaptainSlow81, at 09:30 4 Dec 2017

    If it's true and southgate continues to transform the team into something more exciting for the future...great.

    He should state those intentions by not taking Hart, Henderson etc. To the world cup

  • Comment posted by davetherave, at 09:42 4 Dec 2017

    There is something oddly comforting about having an a manager that is not "flavour of the month".

    You actually get the impression that Southgate is there not just for the money. I like that.

    He has played for England in major tournaments fairly recently and he has been involved in the youth team set up and seems not afraid to use them at senior level, given their success.

    I'm liking this.

  • Comment posted by rl, at 09:25 4 Dec 2017

    Some people here make me laugh.

    “Where’s the incentive / motivation?”

    How about the fact you’re leading your country at a World Cup!! Do people really think that Southgate will simply relax because he knows he will probably have a few tournaments to fulfil his objectives?

    If the FA are showing some slightly longer term thinking then should this not be applauded? Nothing else has worked!

  • Comment posted by john evans, at 12:09 4 Dec 2017

    England are four years away from being world beaters. England have ALWAYS been four years away from being world beaters.

  • Comment posted by StoneyIsle , at 12:15 4 Dec 2017

    The collective negativity from many English football fans is evident of a total lack of insight into how to build an international team.

    You're happy when we win and dismissive when we lose, you are what I call fair weather fans and are of no value to any team.

    We have the foundations for developing a great future and yet you mock and criticise. Support your national team and be a real fan.

  • Comment posted by Casper, at 16:32 4 Dec 2017

    Does anyone else find Southgate so dull and uninspiring?

  • Comment posted by Paul Barron, at 09:27 4 Dec 2017

    Southgate can do a good job as England manager in terms of changing the culture, blooding younger players and creating a more positive atmosphere. However I do not think tactically that he is going to achieve any major success with the team. Still hope he proves me wrong.

  • Comment posted by letmedemonstrate, at 09:56 4 Dec 2017

    Imagine going to work with no performance expectations!

    Martin Glenn knows about football ... said no one ever

  • Comment posted by U16480336, at 09:36 4 Dec 2017

    @ 50

    "If that's the case, why aren't Spain and Germany winning every tournament they enter?"

    They've won 4 out of the last 5 and are two of the favourites going into next summers tournament? That's not bad going don't you think?

  • Comment posted by jamesetheridge, at 17:05 4 Dec 2017

    It's nothing to do with who the manager is, the players don't care about the National team. They'd rather win the Champions League than the World Cup, and unless this mindset changes they'll win nothing.

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