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Gareth Southgate in pole position to become England’s next permanent manager

gareth southgate

The England football team. Following the embarrassing exit at the hands of Iceland at Euro 2016 and the way Roy Hodgson left the job, with that dreadful press conference, it appeared things could not get any worse. England had fallen to an all-time low and were even being laughed at by their neighbours, Wales, who went on to reach the semi-final of the competition, at the first attempt.

On the 22nd July 2016, “following a comprehensive and structured process”, the FA announced the appointment of Sam Allardyce, as the new England manager, on an initial two-year contract. The former Sunderland manager, was one of the names at the top of the shortlist and bookmakers had him at around 16/1 to be given the job. To further quote the FA, “Alongside his primary target of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Allardyce has a mandate to shape a strong, purposeful team identity and maximise the performance potential of a young, talented England squad at a major tournament.”

Having described the role as being his dream job, Allardyce started with an unconvincing 1-0 win in Slovakia. England fans were hoping this was just the start of what would be a strong England team under Allardyce, one which would be capable of challenging at the 2018 World Cup. However, following that game, things started to unravel, with a report of an undercover investigation in the Telegraph, showing Allardyce negotiating a fee of £400,000 to represent an overseas firm that was hoping to profit from Premier League transfers.

Allardyce lost his job, after just one game in charge and once again, the England football team were in the spotlight, for all the wrong reasons. So, who do the three lions turn to next?
Gareth Southgate, who was one of the favourites for the job before it was given to Allardyce, has been placed in charge on a temporary basis, for four games, one of which was the 0-0 draw in Slovenia. Southgate is 11/8 favourite with Paddy Power to be given the job permanently and if the remaining three games go well, he will be given the full-time position. However, a slip-up at the hands of Scotland or heavy defeat to Spain and the FA will feel pressured to looking elsewhere. Currently, the job is Southgate’s to lose but who else is in the frame and perhaps more importantly, who wants the job?

There has been much talk about Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe (14/1 with Bet365) but the consensus is the job is too much for him at this stage of his career but as a long-term possibility, he fits the bill. Arsene Wenger (6/1 at Bet365), who is at the other end of the scale, seems to be coming to the end of his time at Arsenal and has regularly been linked with the England job. Having taken a more hands-off approach at Arsenal, does the Frenchman have the passion and desire to take the England team forward? Previous England manager, Glenn Hoddle (16/1 with Paddy Power), who took the team to the second round of the World Cup in 1998, has not worked in football management for 10 years. Although he has been involved in the game as a tactical expert, it is not the same as managing and there is no higher profile job than manager of England. Plus, considering the way he left the job in 1999, the FA run the risk of a backlash, if they re-appoint Hoddle as manager.

Other names to linked with the job include recently departed Inter Milan boss, Roberto Mancini (4/1 with Coral), who guided Manchester City to their first league title in 44 years and German, Ralf Rangnick (14/1 at Bet Victor), who is currently in charge at RB Leipzig, having also had spells at Schalke, Hoffenheim and Stuttgart.

In truth, the list of names is hardly inspiring and it will surely take a dreadful run of results under Southgate, for him not be offered the job on a permanent basis.

 

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