Gareth Southgate the man to rescue ‘laughing stock’ England, says Teddy Sheringham
The former Under-21 manager is expected to be handed the role on a permanent basis after ending his four-game spell as caretaker with a draw against Spain this week
Teddy Sheringham believes England are currently a “laughing stock” and joined fellow former internationals Des Walker, David James and Steve McManamman in backing Gareth Southgate to be handed the role on a permanent basis.
Caretaker manager Southgate ended his four-game unbeaten tenure, which began in the wake of Sam Allardyce’s high-profile exit following a newspaper sting after just one match in charge, with this week’s 2-2 friendly draw with Spain at Wembley.
The former Middlesbrough manager is widely experted to be handed the role having been in charge of the Under-21 side since 2013, although the Football Association have still set up a panel including former technical chief Howard Wilkinson, chairman Greg Clarke, chief executive Martin Glenn and current technical chief Dan Ashworth to appoint Allardyce’s permanent successor.
“I think when you are paying big money, probably the biggest in the world for a manager, which is what we have done over the last eight years, you have got to get the best and we haven’t got the best,” said former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur striker Sheringham, who won 51 caps for England.
“If the FA are going to push the boat out, they should really get the best man for the job. English football is a kind of laughing stock at the moment, we have had different spells over the years of being a laughing stock, and it is not nice to be an Englishman and have people talking about you in the way they do at the moment, so we need to change things and hopefully Gareth will be the man to do that.
