Gareth Southgate to stay on beyond Euro 2024? England boss hints that he could manage Three Lions at 2026 World Cup

Gareth Southgate has hinted he may remain with England through to the World Cup 2026 but he will make his decision after Euro 2024.

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Southgate hints at staying past Euro 2024 Will make the decision after the tournament Has been England's best manager since 1966 GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The 53-year-old's current FA contract only lasts until December, and some sources believe that after eight years in command, he will retire at the end of this summer's European Championship. However, Southgate revealed during the Nations League draw in Paris that he would make his final decision only after the tournament in Germany as he looks to 'only focus' on winning his first title with the Three Lions.

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Talking at the Nations League draw, Southgate said [via The Times]: "No. I mean, I think you’ve got to see how the summer goes. It’s as simple as that. In my view, I know what we’re capable of achieving in the summer. I know what my own benchmark of success would be, and after that, I’m not really thinking about anything else at the moment. My only focus is to try to win the tournament for England.

“You’ve got to keep winning football matches, and then make decisions — so I’m completely relaxed about that. All my focus is on delivering the best possible tournament this summer. We’ve always built this period in afterward [between the end of the tournament and December] to reflect on things and make the best possible decisions for England."

“If we did anything before it would be detrimental to the performance in the summer, whichever way the decision went,” he said. “Our focus is on the summer. From a personal perspective, you’re fully invested in what happens then and I think that’s how it should be.”

(C)GettyImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After leading his nation to the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup and the final of the Euro 2020, the former Aston Villa star is England's most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, who won the World Cup in 1966. He did, however, contemplate resigning after England's 2022 World Cup quarterfinal loss to France, but ultimately decided to stay in charge until Euro 2024. England's Group C opponents in the Euros this summer are Slovenia, Denmark, and Serbia.

WHAT NEXT FOR SOUTHGATE?

The 2016 Toulon Tournament winner has been travelling to many games as he will look to note down his best possible squad for the tournament in Germany. He will only have four more games at hand before the Euros. They have friendlies scheduled against Brazil and Belgium in late March, and against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in early June.