Gareth Southgate should be England boss for four years not four games, says Trevor Brooking

  • Gareth Southgate took charge of his first game as interim England boss
  • The Three Lions triumphed over Malta at Wembley with a 2-0 scoreline
  • Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli were on target to give Southgate his first win
  • Trevor Brooking is backing Southgate to become permanent manager

Gareth Southgate should be given the opportunity to manage England for the next four years, not just four games, says Trevor Brooking.

Brooking, the former Football Association director of football development, was the man who brought former England player Southgate to the national governing body.

The 46-year-old Southgate won his first match in charge against Malta on Saturday and is in interim charge of 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Scotland.

Gareth Southgate is currently sitting in the England hotseat as interim manager

Gareth Southgate is currently sitting in the England hotseat as interim manager

Former FA director of football Trevor Brooking (right) believes Southgate is the man for the job

Former FA director of football Trevor Brooking (right) believes Southgate is the man for the job

Southgate took charge of his first England game at Wembley against Malta

Southgate took charge of his first England game at Wembley against Malta

A friendly with Spain on November 15 is slated to be Southgate's final match, but Brooking says the FA's search for a successor to Sam Allardyce should look no further than their own Under-21 coach.

Brooking told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek: 'I think he should get the job. In the next three games hopefully he does enough.

'I am confident that then he'll get the two years taking us up to the World Cup.

'And with the players coming through - because there are some younger ones, it's about the timing of when he brings them in - I think then he could kick on for another two years as well.'

Southgate declined the opportunity to be caretaker boss after Roy Hodgson's departure post Euro 2016 before Allardyce was appointed.

Brooking says the interpretation that Southgate felt he was not ready was wrong.

Brooking added: 'They asked him to take the job for one game. With the greatest respect, having been there for four years, if I was Gareth I would've said 'well, no thanks - you either give me a proper chance or not'.

Daniel Sturridge notched the first goal of the Southgate era with a precision header vs Malta

Daniel Sturridge notched the first goal of the Southgate era with a precision header vs Malta

Tottenham midfielder Deli Alli made it 2-0 and ensured Southgate got off to a winning start

Tottenham midfielder Deli Alli made it 2-0 and ensured Southgate got off to a winning start

Southgate already has experience working with England's starlets like Marcus Rashford

Southgate already has experience working with England's starlets like Marcus Rashford

He will continue to oversee England's upcoming qualifiers but has been tipped for the job

He will continue to oversee England's upcoming qualifiers but has been tipped for the job

'And he said no, people thought he didn't think he was ready. That's nothing to do with it.

'What he wanted was a better chance, which he's now got.'

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has been with the Gunners for 20 years and whose contract expires next summer, has also been linked to the role.

Brooking added: 'Arsene's been lurking for about a decade. When I was at the FA he came up once or twice in discussions.

'At the stage the FA are, with St George's Park and everything, it cries out to stay English now.

'Gareth, with that experience, is the person that could take that on.

'Arsene is a great foreign option. I wouldn't do it now, even though a few years ago I'd have certainly considered it.'

 

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