Gareth Southgate wants to instil the England team with “a winning mentality”
England's new manager Gareth Southgate has identified instilling a winning mentality in the team as his top priority, after his appointment was confirmed by the Football Association today.
Southgate also revealed that he intends to employ the same high-pressing style that he used in the friendly against Spain earlier this month – a performance that won plaudits and helped convince FA chiefs to make his temporary role full-time.
The former England Under-21 and Middlesbrough manager has been handed a contract worth around £1.5m plus bonuses that runs until summer 2020.
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"The main challenge over the next four years is to develop a winning culture, develop a strong mentality with the England team, and to help a group of predominantly young players to achieve their full potential," he said.
"We have to create a winning team first and foremost, but I think that anyone who’s seen our Under-21 and junior teams play will know that we want to dominate possession when possible.
"To become a world class team that’s what we have to do against the very best. IOur players are very good at pressing and want to press. I think that’s a style of play our supporters will enjoy watching.
"The expectations of the England manager’s job are huge but I think everybody understands that. We’re a proud footballing nation and the responsibility of that job is something I take very seriously, so I am going to give all I can to produce a team that is exciting to watch and successful."
Southgate was widely expected to be given the job having impressed the FA in a four-match spell in charge following the abrupt departure of Sam Allardyce in September.
Southgate's assistant with the Under-21s, Steve Holland, is set to be his No2 with the senior side (Source: Getty)
Chelsea first-team coach Steve Holland is likely to combine his club duties with being Southgate's assistant, having worked alongside him with the England Under-21 team that won the highly-regarded Toulon Tournament in May.
"I think definitely having tournament experience with the Under-21s is a great advantage for us," Southgate added.
"We’ve experienced winning, we know what’s needed to be successful at tournaments, and we hope to bring that experience and success into the senior team.
"When I took the Under-21 job it was with the aim of trying to improve young English players. My passion for developing young players was at the forefront of that, and establishing a style of play throughout the age groups.
"To be able to progress to the senior team is a great honour – it wasn’t initially the reason I joined the FA, but I’ve really enjoyed that transition."
Southgate’s first match as full-time manager is set to be against Germany on 22 March. That friendly with the world champions is followed four days later by a World Cup qualifying match at home to Lithuania.