BBC bosses are lining up Gareth Southgate as Ian Wright’s replacement on Match of the Day, according to reports.
Southgate, 53, is a free agent after leaving his post as England manager earlier this month.
With Wright, 60, quitting Match of the Day at the end of last season, the BBC are on the lookout for a high-profile new pundit.
According to the Mail, the Beeb are targeting Southgate to work alongside Gary Lineker and Co.
This could make for an awkward reunion, after Lineker criticised the former Three Lions manager during Euro 2024.
After England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark during the group stage, the Match of the Day host called Southgate “tactically inept” on his ‘Rest is Football’ podcast.
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He went on to label the performance as “s***”.
Lineker – who is the Beeb’s top earner on £1.35million a year – came under fire for his comments, with England captain Harry Kane hitting back at him.
The Bayern Munich striker, 31, said: “What ex-players or ex-players who are pundits now have got to realise is it is very hard not to listen to it now, especially for some players who are not used to it or some players who are new to the environment.
“I always feel like they [pundits] have a responsibility – I know they have got to be honest and give their opinion but also, they have a responsibility of being an ex-England player that a lot of players look up to. People do listen to them and people do care what they say.”
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Southgate could be the subject of a bidding war as broadcasters battle to secure his services as a pundit.
In addition to the BBC, ITV are also claimed to be interested.
Southgate deserved to win a trophy with England… he made us all proud of our team again, writes Shaun Custis
GARETH SOUTHGATE deserved to win a trophy as England manager, write Shaun Custis.
Unfortunately, you don’t always get what you deserve in life.
No man could have worked harder to give the country the silverware it craved and no man cared more about our national team.
As a player he went through agonies after missing that fateful penalty against Germany at Euro 96 — and victory as a manager in the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday would have been a wonderful redemption.
Southgate himself said he didn’t believe in fairytales — and there was to be no happy ending as ultimately England came up short again when it mattered.
But his legacy should be one of great achievement, not of failure.
This is an England boss who transformed our feelings towards the Three Lions.
Hardened fans, who claimed they only cared about their club, fell back in love with England during Gareth’s eight years in charge.
As The Sun’s chief football writer, I followed England through the Sven Göran Eriksson era, on to Steve McClaren, then Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson.
None of them could hold a candle to Southgate.
Southgate took it on reluctantly and, when the FA then wanted to make his position permanent, he made it clear he had to have free rein to do the job on his terms.
This was to be a new England with no club cliques, no wars with the media and an openness and honesty from coaches and players.
He never believed it was the impossible job as many claimed before him.
Yes, the Euros was a let-down and England were probably lucky to make the final.
But Southgate, by some distance, turned his England team into the most successful since Sir Alf Ramsey’s World Cup winners of 1966.
He gave us plenty of entertainment and fun along the way and a reason to feel proud.
We were even starting to crack it at penalty shoot-outs.
Most importantly, Southgate was a thoroughly decent human being throughout it all, treating everyone with respect — whether you were a player, a fan or part of the media.
Read Sun Head of Sport Shaun Custis’ full opinion on Gareth Southgate’s England exit…
Prior to his role as England boss, Southgate worked for ITV on their Champions League and Three Lions coverage, as well as at several major tournaments.
During his previous stint with the broadcaster, he featured alongside their current stars Roy Keane and Lee Dixon.
Southgate’s England record
Here is a look at Gareth Southgate’s record as England manager.
Overall record
- Games: 102
- Wins: 61
- Draws: 24
- Losses: 17
- Goals scored: 213
- Goals conceded: 72
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
