Former Manchester United star Gary Neville has urged the English FA to offer Gareth Southgate a new six-year contract to stay on as England manager.
Despite being criticized for England’s performance throughout Euro 2024, the Three Lions have found their way to final and will be facing a tough side in the Spanish national team. However, many fans have suggested that the 53-year-old should step away from his role no matter how England performed in the tournament.
Speaking on Stick to Football: The Overlap Special, Neville made his feelings on the manager known, urging him to stay on for 2026 and beyond.
‘That [criticism] would have hurt Gareth because what he’ll want is respect from the fans, who would be very important to him I’d imagine,’ Neville said. ‘Didier Deschamps been there what feels like 10/12 years, Joachim Low was there for donkey’s years.
‘There’s no reason for us to want to change this manager. Why don’t we give him a six-year deal and say, “Look, he’s our manager for the next 10 years, he’s young, the players like him, he’s got a young squad”?
‘He was teetering on the brink only 10 days ago, even after all he’s done. I’m wondering whether he thinks, “Do I want to put myself through what I know is coming at some point?”‘
The future of Southgate, who has been in charge of England’s men’s senior team for eight years, is expected to be sorted out relatively soon after the tournament, which England are bidding to win for the first time.
Southgate’s current deal runs until December, but, if he were to step away, it would likely be before the first international break of next season in September.
