- Title: New England soccer boss Southgate visits Wembley
- Date: 1st December 2016
- Summary: LONDON, UK (DECEMBER 1, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CAMERA CREWS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS INSIDE WEMBLEY STADIUM BIG TV SCREEN SHOWING GRAPHICS AND IMAGES OF NEWLY-CONFIRMED ENGLAND SOCCER MANAGER GARETH SOUTHGATE SOUTHGATE ARRIVES WITH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE MARTIN GLENN (BLUE TIE-LEFT) AND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DAN ASHWORTH (RED TIE-RIGHT) SOUTHGATE POSES WITH GLENN SOUTHGATE POSES WITH ASHWORTH VARIOUS OF CAMERAMEN, SOUTHGATE - AND HIS SHADOW SOUTHGATE AND COLLEAGUES TURN AND WALK BACK TOWARDS DOORS
- Embargoed: 16th December 2016 13:16
- Keywords: Soccer England manager Southgate Wembley
- Location: LONDON, UK
- City: LONDON, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA0015B1Z7ZZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Gareth Southgate visited Wembley on Thursday (December 1), a day after being handed the onerous task of ending England's decades of soccer under-achievement at big tournaments.
The 46-year-old former international defender had been in temporary charge since Sam Allardyce quit 67 days into his reign in September after becoming embroiled in a newspaper sting.
Southgate, who played for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, impressed the Football Association during four matches as interim manager and was the overwhelming favourite to secure the job.
The mild-mannered boss's next game will be a friendly away to Germany in March, before a home 2018 World Cup qualifier a few days later against Lithuania.
It was against Germany that, as a player, Southgate achieved unwanted notoriety for his penalty shootout miss in the semi-finals of the European Championship in 1996 at Wembley.
He later starred in a pizza company TV commercial alongside Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle wearing a brown paper bag over his head as they teased him over his miss.
England last won a major trophy when they lifted the World Cup at home under Alf Ramsey in 1966 and have not reached the semi-finals of a top international tournament since Euro '96.
Southgate's mission will be to continue the good work he did at the-under 21s now he is in charge of the senior team.
They are already in a good position to reach the World Cup, topping their group after four games, with Southgate overseeing wins over Scotland and Malta and a draw with Slovenia.
His appointment is no surprise and FA chief executive Martin Glenn described him as a leader and a winner.
Southgate is the youngest full-time England manager since Steve McClaren was appointed, aged 54, in 2006.
This is only his third permanent role as a manager, having been at the helm of Middlesbrough from 2006-09 until he was sacked the season after they were relegated from the top flight.
He was in charge of England's under 21s from 2013-16, working with the likes of Harry Kane, John Stones and Raheem Sterling, all of whom are now part of the senior squad.
As a player Southgate earned 57 caps and he will now be expected to bring the passion he had as a player to the job of manager as England bid to return to the international elite. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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