England confirm Gareth Southgate as manager
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 03/12/16 11:53pm
Gareth Southgate has been confirmed as England’s new permanent manager.
Southgate has signed a four year contract with the Football Association - a deal that expires following Euro 2020 - after completing an unbeaten run of four games as interim boss earlier this month.
His appointment was rubber-stamped at an FA board meeting at St George's Park on Wednesday, with the 46-year-old becoming England's 16th permanent manager.
Southgate, who will relinquish his duties with the U21s as a result, was present at England's HQ in Burton, where he is based, but did not appear before the board.
"I am extremely proud to be appointed England manager. However, I'm also conscious that getting the job is one thing, now I want to do the job successfully," Southgate said.
"I thoroughly enjoyed working with the players over these past four games and I think there's huge potential.
"I'm determined to give everything I have to give the country a team that they're proud of and one that they're going to enjoy watching play and develop. For me, the hard work starts now.
"The semi-finals and final of 2020 are at Wembley. That's clearly in the back of everybody's mind. Having played in the last European Championship here in 1996 and got so close as a player, I have a desire to address that record.
"That something that I think is a realistic aim for the team given the age and the way they'll mature in the next few years in particular."
Sky sources understand Steve Holland will continue in his dual role as assistant manager at Chelsea and England for the remainder of this season, but will go full time with the national team from the start of next season.
Southgate's first match as permanent England manager will be a friendly against Germany on March 22 at Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park.
Southgate was interviewed by a five-man panel at St George's Park last week after ending his spell as interim boss.
FA chairman Greg Clarke, FA chief executive Martin Glenn and FA technical director Dan Ashworth were part of that five-man panel, which also included Graeme Le Saux and Howard Wilkinson.
Glenn added: "We are delighted to confirm Gareth as England manager. He's obviously somebody we know well but it's his understanding of international football and the development set-up at St. George's Park that is important.
"He performed extremely well during the four games he was in temporary charge and he impressed us during a tough interview process. He was interviewed quite strongly and coming out of that you get two things.
"You get great confidence that he really knows what he's talking about and really understands how to motivate players in an international set-up.
"Second you can also see that, like all of us, he's also got things to learn and we've got a better idea of ways we can put support around him so he can be successful.
"Gareth is a great ambassador for what The FA stands for, he's a very good football tactician and a leader but beneath that he's a winner and that's an important part of the job."
The former Middlesbrough manager was placed in interim control following the departure of Sam Allardyce in September and led England two wins and two draws during his four-match spell in charge.
Home wins over Malta and Scotland as well as a draw away in Slovenia has left England top of Group F in their quest to secure qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
England conceded two late goals in Southgate's final match as interim boss to draw 2-2 in a friendly with Spain, with Real Madrid midfielder Isco scoring a 96th-minute equaliser.
England's 2017 fixtures:
Friendly: Germany v England - Signal Iduna Park - March 22
World Cup Qualifier: England v Lithuania - Wembley - March 26
World Cup Qualifier: Scotland v England - Hampden Park - June 10
Friendly: France v England - Stade de France - June 13
World Cup Qualifier: Malta v England - Ta'Qali National Stadium - September 1
World Cup Qualifier: England v Slovakia - Wembley - September 4
World Cup Qualifier: England v Slovenia - Wembley - October 5
World Cup Qualifier: Lithuania v England - Wembley - October 8
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