Gareth Southgate may have already guided England to a World Cup semi-final but the manager is now studying for an elite coaching qualification on a course being run by UK Sport.
Southgate is expected to confirm he has signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday taking him to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
And the head coach will be joined by fellow students at an England press conference - GB Olympic swimming coach Melanie Marshall and England rugby forwards coach Steve Borthwick will be in the room when he names his squad for the Nations League games in Croatia and Spain later this month.
Southgate's contract was due to expire in 2020 but the FA have given him new terms, plus an extra two years, at £3million annually.
More immediately, Southgate must wrestle with various injury problems before announcing his squad.
Tottenham's Dele Alli is out with a hamstring injury, while Jesse Lingard of Manchester United is struggling with a sore groin.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is likely to be involved in the Europa League for Chelsea on Thursday night after a foot injury, but there are reservations about selecting him due to his lack of recent action.
Likewise, Adam Lallana is back in full training at Liverpool but still not fully match fit.
And to add to Southgate's concerns, Southampton's Alex McCarthy is being hampered by a hamstring problem which could cause him to drop out of the squad.
Southgate's injury problems meant the England manager, whose new four-year deal worth £3million a year is due to be confirmed on Thursday, was on Wednesday night hoping his players involved in Wednesday night's Champions League action avoided injury ahead of Thursday's squad announcement.
England's fitness concerns in midfield could open the door to Leicester midfielder James Maddison earning his first senior call-up; while Ross Barkley, Will Hughes and Harry Winks have been monitored.
In goal, McCarthy's injury could see Stoke's Jack Butland keep his place despite playing in the Championship, while Fulham's Marcus Bettinelli is also hopeful of keeping his place in the squad.
It seems highly unlikely, however, that Southgate will hand Joe Hart a recall despite the keeper impressing at Burnley.
Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge has fired his way back onto Southgate's radar following his promising start to the season and could be in the running should the England boss decide to add another forward to his party.
West Ham's Declan Rice, who is deciding on whether to play for England or Republic of Ireland, is unlikely to be in the squad.
Though, the fact he has turned down another call-up from Ireland indicates his preference for a career with England.
tiuaelmps
1
nice one
Kelvinslah
1
good luck
CygonNavarro
1
He's a young & full of experience coach!
Fasbcinpu
1
Give him a chance all you that came from fire brigade countries 😂
gawwd
3
Of course, who'd turn down earning 12mil in 4 years.
Handsome Mike
1
Tbh he got really lucky. Against proper opposition we would have, and did get battered. Southgate just used Contes style with a little variation but his formations were so lost. Like how can you play Walker as a centre back in favour of Trippier at the right even though Walkers better on the right. And why play sterling as a striker when you know he's got no finish while letting Rashford who can finish rot on the bench... Would have played 433 same keeper and back 4, forwards would have been sterling right, rashford left and Kane through the middle. Midfield don't really have much options so would have kept the same 3 he used but for the love of god don't play average players like Dier. He absolutely sucks bollucks.
Playing Walker at the CB position clearly shows he isn't as good as he is hyped.. Walker is a beast at the RWB position..He is the best in Europe to me but Southgate is so technically blind he misused Walker's qualities.. I am a fan of English national team but seriously I have never believed in Southgate, he took Middlesbrough to relegation remember?
Handsome Mike
3
England is not serious to achieve anything significant yet.. Southgate is a below average coach who is sooo overated by English media as usual.
Elsa98
4
Southgate made an entire generation believe that england could win the world cup.
ratdtu
1
gareth Southgate came to our school
Don5000
0
Will he succeed? I doubt that.
Patrick Myanmar
2
With due respect to Southgate, I think it's still too early to give him such bumper contract now. Hope England FA will not encounter the situation like Manchester united and Mohrinho 😊
Kogutan
1
England team is bit overated..but they have a lot of potential.. epl player lack of experience playing outside their turf..
Nesaiknruy
0
Lets be honest mate, that’s the best we’ve done for 20 years because we did not face any top opposition on our run to the semi’s.
If there was any world cup we should have won, it was this one... no way will they give us Panama and Tunisia again smh...
Nesaiknruy
3
Tbh he got really lucky. Against proper opposition we would have, and did get battered. Southgate just used Contes style with a little variation but his formations were so lost. Like how can you play Walker as a centre back in favour of Trippier at the right even though Walkers better on the right. And why play sterling as a striker when you know he's got no finish while letting Rashford who can finish rot on the bench... Would have played 433 same keeper and back 4, forwards would have been sterling right, rashford left and Kane through the middle. Midfield don't really have much options so would have kept the same 3 he used but for the love of god don't play average players like Dier. He absolutely sucks bollucks.
DylanGrier
0
He will be sacked before that, England lost 3 key matches 3rd Position Match in the World Cup and Then 2 more against quality teams Just a fact check
fred is only in where were england before him? yeah..
amicablea
0
Don't like the man. The 5 at the back, I don't care who it works for i hate the formation.
Tylerddr
1
Mistake
LoveHardy
2
Should coach united
estimated
0
Southgate you’re the one
DallasDK
0
He will be sacked before that, England lost 3 key matches 3rd Position Match in the World Cup and Then 2 more against quality teams Just a fact check
MONO555
1
What beating Panama and have no plan B tactically gets you.
Curry9
0
Get off his back he’s a young manager managing a young team who did the best we’ve done for over 20 years.
Veravere
1
Lets be honest mate, that’s the best we’ve done for 20 years because we did not face any top opposition on our run to the semi’s.
Georgiana
0
This is a mistake. As usual the FA are overcommitting. 2020 and then look at it again.
Dedemis
0
Wellcome back to Elland Road anytime
Lingaluards
0
Why do we do it to ourselves so he gets us to the euros but we don’t win go out at group stage he’d still have 2 years left, I’ve not even thought that we won’t make euros 2022 he could be gone by next summer
Jackys
0
in a results business such as football why extend a contract for that period of time? Contract should be till after 2020 finals
Eddrew
0
good news for England
Schwein0731
0
Should be two years at a time, tournament to tournament, but OK, he’s made a solid base of a young team, must now build on that and get some Premier League strength, pace and attack into it. WC2018 performance was a bit flattering but go with it. And don’t forget how to defend.
sunny21
0
Why ? One year at best.