Gareth Southgate: Real hard work begins now

Gareth Southgate declared “the hard work starts now” after finally landing the England manager’s job, with the make-up of his backroom team and a review of team culture the early priorities.

By the time he inked a four-year deal yesterday afternoon Southgate’s appointment had long been considered a fait accompli and his nomination was nodded through during a Football Association board meeting at St George’s Park.

With just one club job on his CV, a three-year stint at Middlesbrough that ended in relegation and dismissal, Southgate landed the job primarily due to his work with England U21s and the measured, decisive approach he took to his four-game interim stint.