England boss Gareth Southgate urged to stay until 2026 World Cup: 'The lads would love it'

England manager Gareth Southgate celebrates victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

England manager Gareth Southgate has been urged to stay on until the 2026 World Cup by one of his key players at Euro 2024.

Southgate leads England into a second successive European Championship final on Sunday as the Three Lions face Spain in Berlin amid hopes he can steer the men's team to a first major honour since the 1966 World Cup.

The former England defender has been in charge since September 2016 and has now overseen more than 100 games for his country in that time.

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The 53-year-old is out of contract in December, but reports on Saturday morning claimed he will be offered a fresh deal by the Football Association – whatever happens in Sunday's final.

Speaking ahead of the game against Spain, midfielder Declan Rice backed Southgate to stay for another two years, insisting that the manager had the backing of the whole squad, despite criticism from fans and the media for some poor performances at Euro 2024.

"I woke up to the news this morning that the FA wanted him to stay until '26. This journey and this road that he has been on has been so special," Rice said.

Declan Rice hugs Gareth Southgate after England's win over Slovakia at Euro 2024.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"Hopefully we can do something special for him for sure and I know for a fact the lads would love him to stay on until '26, there's no doubt about that.

"The way he looks after us, how calm he is, how he is as a man-manager, how he is on the training pitch with us, he's top.

"But none of us have spoken to him. That's none of our business. Whatever he wants to do, whatever makes him happy, I'm sure he'll make the right decision. But I'm sure he's got the backing of everyone to stay on."

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Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.