Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports News (08/07/21 at 8:10 am) that ‘no-one’ was linking Gareth Southgate to the Tottenham or Everton jobs when they were available.
The England boss has guided his country to the final of Euro 2020 and is possibly now the greatest Three Lions boss since Sir Alf Ramsey.
Despite Southgate riding a wave on the international stage, his name was hardly mentioned when the Spurs and Everton jobs were up for grabs.
And Carragher feels a reason behind that is the 50-year-old is ‘perfectly suited’ to being an international boss and this England team.
“It just feels with Gareth Southgate that he’s perfectly suited to international football and this England squad,” said Carragher.
“Tottenham and Everton, two of the biggest clubs in the country, didn’t have a manager at that time. And no one would link Gareth Southgate with that job.
“That wasn’t a criticism of Gareth or those clubs. It’s just if the big jobs come up in this country then I don’t think Gareth will be in the running for it. Whether it’s because of what happened at Middlesbrough.
“Or he just seems to be perfect for England. There is no one else you would want managing England.”
Southgate did flirt with club football during the early years of his management and that resulted in Middlesbrough suffering relegation from the Premier League.
But that was his first gig on the touchline, so it’s understandable that it wasn’t going to go well or that he was going to have some difficulties.
And now the former centre-back is in a position where he can become only the second England manager to win a major tournament.
The Italian’s will provide a pretty stern test for Southgate pragmatic, yet stable side because Roberto Mancini’s side have that know-how that has probably seen them produce the best performances at Euro 2020.
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