Roy Hodgson says Gareth Southgate can help England build on strong foundations
Wednesday 7 December 2016 15:57, UK
Roy Hodgson believes he has laid the foundations for an era of England success under new manager Gareth Southgate.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ in his first television interview since quitting the national side, Hodgson endorsed Southgate's appointment as his long-term successor and defended his own record during four years in charge.
The shock of summer's Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland hands remains, but the 69-year-old is proud of overseeing England's transition from a side reliant on the fading 'Golden Generation' to one unafraid to field talented young players.
And Hodgson regrets that the Euros came at a time when his core group of Tottenham players were flagging after the rigours of a failed Premier League title challenge.
"Me and the coaching staff can be proud of bringing in youngsters," he said. "We took over a top-class team with John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, but then they all retired and left us to our own devices.
"We knew then we had to build for the future. We threw some in at the deep end but they dealt with it well.
"Harry Kane and Dele Alli were so important for Tottenham but just before the Euros Dele got suspended and Kane got tired.
"Had we had got the Tottenham five [Eric Dier, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose were also in the squad] earlier in the season, if the Euros were a month earlier, we could have got more from it."
Hodgson's job initially went to Sam Allardyce, but a newspaper sting forced his departure after just one game.
Southgate stepped up from the U21s and subsequently passed his audition for the senior job during an unbeaten four-match run as interim boss, and Hodgson said: "I endorse the appointment the same way as everyone else has.
"It's great that he comes into the job with such a positive perception of him as a person, him as a coach, and his experience of the FA and what he's cabable of doing.
"I think the team's very good, I think we have good players, I think they know what they're doing. They're dangerous going forward, but most important of all they are strong defensively, they get back quickly, they have the five-yard furies, they win the ball back quickly in the Barcelona manner.
"These are all things I think which make for a good football team. If Gareth, as I believe has happened so far, can keep a good atmosphere, can keep the players wanting to play for England, wanting to continue to improve, I can only see a very positive future."
And the former boss believes captain Wayne Rooney still has a role to play despite losing his starting spot at Manchester United.
"Yes, I think he has an England future," Hodgson said. "I need to be careful as I don't want to prejudice the job that Gareth has to do.
"I found Wayne a good captain. He was well liked and well respected by the players. He took the job very seriously.
"Of course he's lost his place in the Man United team and when players lose their place in their club team it becomes harder for the national coach to pick them. But I would like to believe he has a role to play in a squad of 22/23 players, whether he actually starts the game or not.
"If it was up to me I wouldn't have hesitated to keep him on."
