Sport

Is Southgate cut out for club management?

Now that Gareth Southgate is staying as England manager until Euro 2024, debates around his qualities as a coach will be much more straightforward. Those who want him in place recognise the growth and development he has overseen since taking over at one of the national team’s lowest ebbs in living memory, whereas those who don’t believe he has not got the most out of what is fast becoming the most exciting squad in years.

Had he departed following England’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to France last week, which was a distinct possibility, attention would have turned to not only his legacy, but what is next for him. The European Championships in 18 months feels like a much better stepping off point for everyone; although going out at the last eight may appear to be a disappointing result compared to a semi final and a final in their last two campaigns under Southgate, context must be given.

England played a more attacking style, something many have been calling for, and were probably the better team against France in the second half, taking the world champions all the way. They didn’t lose with an obvious deficit in quality or tactical nous, as they did in the 2018 World Cup to Croatia and arguably the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Although the upward trajectory was halted, there is evidence of progression, and more to come from everyone involved. That won’t quite be the same in 2024, whether they win silverware or not in Germany.

Southgate also has desires on the club game again, and this is where the nuance arrives. He is an entirely different person and coach since he last worked in a dug out day to day, as a rookie boss at Middlesbrough.

He took that job at the end of his playing career before his coaching badges were complete. Initially, he impressed, but a few months after the club were relegated in 2009, he was sacked. Then came his work with the FA, and it really does seem as though he repurposed himself for the England job, first getting involved with the planning of the overarching targets for success at all levels of the game which is now thriving, and then coaching many of the players he selected in Qatar with the under-21s.

As well as he has done in the role, transforming the team on and off the pitch in so many ways, there is no guarantee that the skills and success would transfer. The pressure is different but just as intense; he may not have to discuss politics so much, but he will have far more demands on instant results, which is the complete opposite of what has helped him with England. Essentially, that is the difference between club and international management.

While massaging egos and being a great man-manager, Southgate’s undeniable strength, remains key, taking charge of an elite club is a more technical endeavour.

But this notion goes way beyond just Southgate. Didier Deschamps is another excellent example of somebody whose success in the international game is completely different to that at club level. While he reached the Champions League final with Monaco in 2004 and gained promotion from Serie B with Juventus three years later following the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal, there isn’t much on his record beyond that suggesting he would lead France to two finals and one major tournament triumph.

Both Deschamps and Southgate’s journeys with their countries have been similar. They are pragmatists by nature, which has led to criticism because of the attacking quality they each have at their disposal. But they have managed to tap into the minds of their players and get them onside, which may appear simplistic but led to them achieving things their predecessors could only dream of.

They also make the right calls at the right times, even if they initially seem unpopular or far from obvious. Southgate’s consistent backing of Harry Maguire led to a backlash, but his form mirrors England’s overall, coming good at tournaments. His decision to unleash Jude Bellingham now and only now led to one of the best performances of anyone at the World Cup. With Deschamps, he earned his money by selecting Antoine Griezmann as a midfielder in the wake of injuries to Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. That proved to be inspired.

Joachim Low has not found a new club since leaving Germany, while Luiz Felipe Scolari has never made a success of main stream club management despite great success with Brazil and Portugal. His experience at Chelsea is the prime example of why the crossover is seldom seamless; the pressure is different, more intense and relies on alternative skills.

It is great news for England that Southgate is staying, but once he does leave, he may well find life to be a very tough outside the FA bubble he helped form.