Gareth Southgate: FA want England boss to stay regardless of Euro 2024 final outcome
The Football Association (FA) is hoping to persuade Gareth Southgate to remain as England manager, regardless of the result of Sunday's Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Southgate's contract is up in December, allowing for a period of reflection following the tournament, and he has repeatedly said he will not consider his future until after the European Championship.
England have already made history by reaching a first major men’s final on foreign soil, with Southgate extending his record as the England manager with the most knockout wins at major tournaments - 10 - in Germany.
Irrespective of whether England can overcome Spain in Berlin's Olympiastadion on Sunday night, the FA want Southgate to take charge of a third World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026, which would see him extend his stay in charge to a decade.
The FA's chief executive Mark Bullingham said before the tournament that that the governing body has not approached any potential successors to Southgate.
Southgate last signed a contract in November 2021 and strongly considered walking away from the job after the Qatar World Cup 18 months ago, reflecting on his future following the quarter-final defeat to France before deciding to stay on.
He appeared unlikely to remain in post beyond the Euros after being booed and targeted with plastic cups by a minority of supporters after the 0-0 draw with Slovenia in Cologne in England's final group game, but his side's remarkable progress through the knockouts has transformed the fans' mood.
Southgate believes his side will have to be "perfect" to beat Spain but insists England have the experience to be more than a match for Luis de la Fuente's side.
"They are a bloody good side, let’s pitch it right," he said. "We have got to be perfect to win this game and we will have to find everything that we have got from within us.
“But, we are in there and we have got players who have played lots of big matches, so they will know what is required on the night.
"But in the next couple of days, we have got to get perfectly prepared, as it is such a quick turnaround."