Southgate appointed England football manager

England announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Gareth Southgate as their full time football manager.

Southgate has signed a four-year contract which includes England's campaigns for the 2018 World Cup and the 2020 European Championship.

The English Football Association's (FA) selection panel of Chief Executive Martin Glenn, Technical Director Dan Ashworth and Chairman Greg Clarke unanimously agreed that he was the outstanding candidate for the role having impressed during his four-game period as interim manager.

Southgate said in a FA release: "I am extremely proud to be appointed England manager. However, I'm also conscious that getting the job is one thing, now I want to do the job successfully."

"I've thoroughly enjoyed working with the players over these past four games and I think there's huge potential. I'm determined to give everything I have to give the country a team that they're proud of and one that they're going to enjoy watching play and develop. For me, the hard work starts now."

Martin Glenn added: "We are delighted to confirm Gareth as England manager. He's obviously somebody we know well but it's his understanding of international football and the development set-up at St. George's Park that is important.

"He performed extremely well during the four games he was in temporary charge and he impressed us during a tough interview process.

"Gareth is a great ambassador for what the FA stands for, he's a very good football tactician and a leader but beneath that he's a winner and that's an important part of the job."

Southgate's first competitive match as manager will be the international fixture against Germany in Dortmund on March 22, 2017, followed by the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley Stadium on March 26, 2017.

As a player, Southgate earned 57 caps for England and represented his country at two World Cups and two European Championships.

He was earlier England's Under-21 head coach and took over the senior team's reins on a caretaker basis after England's 2016 Euro defeat in the pre-quarterfinals.

--IANS

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