The Three Lions boss has come under fire for his side’s exit in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Wayne Rooney believes England must keep Southgate as their manager “until at least Euro 2024”.
Following a frustrating defeat in the Euro 2020 final, Southgate aimed to end England’s wait for the World Cup trophy in Qatar.
The Three Lions reached the quarter-finals with a few brilliant performances. But their performance against France wasn’t enough to secure a place in the tournament’s top four.
Southgate is yet to make a decision about his future in the national team. The 52-year-old has vocal critics in the English media, but Rooney backs him to continue his job.
“The result alone is not a basis for judgment,” Rooney said in his column for The Times.
“Another day, England go and win that game.
“To me, watching on, it felt a huge step in the right direction. England dealt with the pressure of being in a quarter-final against a team of France’s quality and were very unlucky not to get through.
“I listened to some of Gareth’s interviews afterwards and he was spot on when he said that England can now mix it with the biggest boys of international football. They can.
“That is why, for me, Gareth should stay on – until Euro 2024 at the least. The players respect him, the squad is in a great frame of mind and the team is getting better on the pitch and those Euros in Germany are a great opportunity.”
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