Gareth Southgate said Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel are eyeing up the England job because he has “made the impossible look possible.”
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino said last week he was “open” to the idea of managing England if the role became available while Tuchel has privately circulated his interest following his departure from Chelsea.
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Southgate is under contract until 2024 but speculation persists that he could end a six-year tenure following the tournament in Qatar, particularly if England underperform.
Upon taking charge, England were mired in disappointment and controversy with Roy Hodgson sacked following a humiliating last-16 exit to Iceland at Euro 2016 and his successor Sam Allardyce axed following off-field controversy involving allegations of advising third parties on circumventing transfer regulations.
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Southgate has since guided England to the 2018 World Cup semifinals and last summer’s delayed Euro 2020 final, losing to Italy in a penalty shoot-out, as the 52-year-old has made huge progress in what has been dubbed “the impossible job.”
“Maybe we’ve made the impossible just look possible,” Southgate said. “Yeah, look, maybe we’ve made it look possible and its exciting for other people and I can understand that.
“We want England to be competitive for years to come and I believe that our academy system has got that.
