Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 7y

Gareth Southgate to become England boss on four-year deal - sources

Gareth Southgate will be confirmed as England's permanent manager on Wednesday, with sources confirming to ESPN FC that the 46-year-old has agreed a four-year contract to succeed Sam Allardyce.

Previously head coach of the England under-21 team, Southgate has taken interim charge of the senior squad during the last four games following Allardyce's resignation in September in the aftermath of undercover newspaper revelations.

England won two and drew two of the four games under Southgate and now sit two points clear of second-placed Slovenia in Group F.

Southgate was interviewed by a five-man FA panel at St George's Park, the National Football Centre, last week, despite being the only candidate considered by the organisation.

And while Southgate's appointment has always been regarded as a formality since he filled the void left by Allardyce, sources have told ESPN FC that the former Middlesbrough manager fought to secure a longer-term deal than that handed to Allardyce, who signed a two-year contract in the summer following Roy Hodgson's resignation in the wake of the Euro 2016 defeat against Iceland.

As a result, Southgate will now take England through the Euro 2020 tournament, at which the final will be held at Wembley Stadium.

Capped 57 times at senior level by England during a nine-year international career, Southgate will take charge of the team as full-time manager for the first time in a friendly against world champions Germany in Dortmund on March 22 next year.

Southgate will then oversee the resumption of England's World Cup qualification campaign with a Wembley fixture against Lithuania four days later.

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