How is Southgate perceived by players, managers and pundits?

30 November 2016 15:54

Gareth Southgate was announced as the permanent England manager on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old took charge for four games on an interim basis following the sacking of Sam Allardyce and here, Press Association Sport looks at the best quotes about the former Middlesbrough boss.

"A prediction: England will be really competitive for the next 10 years. Terrific batch of young talent.....Seriously!" - Former England captain Gary Lineker was impressed as the Three Lions went 2-0 up in a friendly against Spain...

"Wouldn't overly worry about that, Gareth. The job is yours, and deservedly so." - ...And he still backed Southgate for the job despite two late goals sealing a 2-2 draw for the Spaniards at Wembley.

"I have my doubts I really do, because, at international level, managers are not particularly there to develop players and improve them but to get the best out of them with the right system for the team and, even more importantly, motivational skills." - But another former England striker, Robbie Fowler, is unsure whether Southgate is the right man for the job.

"He's had four games, those four games have gone okay, and there is no-one else around, let's be honest," - Former Tottenham and Portsmouth boss, and once favourite for the England job, Harry Redknapp tells TalkSport there were few options for the Football Association.

"When you have asked all the players the question they have all been very supportive of the manager, he has been brilliant to work with over this period of time. I think we have progressed in the short space of time he has been here from the first game to this game and that is definitely a good sign that we are going in the right direction." - Jordan Henderson, who captained England against Spain, has enjoyed working under Southgate during his temporary reign.

"The job he's done has been impeccable. Does he lack a little bit of experience? Possibly, and he'd probably say that by his own admission. Does the job come a little bit soon? Possibly. But right now we don't have a better candidate available. He's made big decisions: a lot of people say he's too nice. Yes, he's an absolute gentleman, and very articulate, intelligent, but he's got an edge," Danny Mills, who won 19 England caps during his career and played alongside the new England manager during their time together at Boro, is a Southgate fan.

"He is still the same person. That's the most important thing, that people don't change, they stick to their beliefs. I think what he's done over the four games is obvious." - Tottenham defender Eric Dier, who played under Southgate for England's Under-21s, also praised the new senior boss.

Asked if Southgate was the outstanding candidate for the role, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, also linked to the position, said - "Yes, he is. That is the difficulty in England, that there's always the demand for the big names. What is most important to me is the competence of the person and if a person is competent then he can make a name for himself. He has a good opportunity to show that. I'm happy to see that he has an opportunity to show that he has quality."

Source: PA