Finally Gareth Southgate Appointed As England Manager Set To Meet Media Today

 

Gareth Southgate will outline his vision for the national side at 11am on Thursday when he meets the media for the first time since being appointed permanent England manager. Southgate, who signed a four-year deal as Sam Allardyce's successor on Wednesday, will likely be asked if he intends to keep Wayne Rooney as captain, although given his first game in charge isn't until March next year any decision on that is likely to be deferred. 

Southgate spoke glowingly of Rooney's leadership in his temporary stint at the helm but, just as tellingly, dropped the skipper in his second match against Slovenia. Rooney was subsequently the centre of unwanted headlines during the last international break and Southgate told the in-house FATV channel on Wednesday that there was now a long period to really start to think about the kind of culture we want to create.

He said “Although I was very pleased with what we did (over the last four games) there's a need for huge improvement if we want to be successful as a team. I think there are certain ways of working that we can start to establish that will give us a better chance of being successful moving forward.”

We may also learn more about Southgate's backroom team, with Sky sources reporting 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.