GARETH SOUTHGATE will stay on as England boss.
Southgate is set to give the Football Association the perfect Christmas present by telling them of his decision this week.
The Three Lions boss believed for months the World Cup would be his last tournament in charge and felt the same in the immediate aftermath of the quarter-final defeat by France.
But now he is ready to commit to lead the team to Euro 2024 in Germany.
The news came as Newcastle boss Eddie Howe – who was being linked with the job – said he hoped Southgate would continue with the “magnificent job” he was doing.
The FA will be hugely relieved about Southgate’s change of heart.
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He set alarm bells ringing by refusing to commit to seeing out his contract after the France defeat.
Southgate, 52, said he needed time to think about whether he had the energy for another tournament campaign.
Although England players told him that they wanted him to stay, he remained in two minds.
Southgate was hurt by criticism during the disastrous Nations League campaign, especially the hostile reaction from fans to the 4-0 home defeat by Hungary in June.
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He had to be talked out of publicly announcing his intention to quit after the World Cup but still thought he would go, no matter what happened in Qatar.
Now, after a week of soul-searching, Southgate has changed his mind and wants one more crack at leading England to tournament glory.
Although the Three Lions went out in the last eight after reaching the semi-finals in Russia and last year’s final of the Euros, Southgate believes the team showed real signs of progress.
He was delighted by the performance of young players like Jude Bellingham and is excited by what they could do in the future.
And he feels that the public were more accepting of the France defeat than of previous disappointments because England had played better and more on the front foot.
It is understood Southgate met assistant Steve Holland on Friday and the pair agreed they would continue the job they began in 2016.
Howe is among the England fans who will be delighted by the news.
Howe, speaking after Newcastle’s 2-1 friendly win over Spanish side Rayo Vallecano, said: “I hope Gareth continues and carries on the magnificent job he has done – that is my wish for him – my only focus Is Newcastle United.
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“I thought England were really unlucky and in my opinion they were the better team against France but sometimes the better team doesn’t win.
“I was watching like everyone else English, hoping for an England win, but it didn’t happen, which is a real shame because overall in the tournament they played very well.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
