Gareth Southgate has revealed he’ll nurture England’s teen talent by adopting Sir Alex Ferguson’s method for handling Ryan Giggs.
Three Lions boss Southgate says he’s happy to give the youngsters the international stage, but he’ll work to protect them from over-exposure, on and off the pitch.
England’s 5-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win over the Czech Republic saw Southgate field two 18-year-olds – Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi – the first time that’s happened in 138 years.
And with 20-year-old West Ham midfielder Declan Rice handed a senior debut too, England’s future looks bright.
But Southgate insists he feels a responsibility to make sure the Three Lions manage their young stars sensibly.
And he’s using legendary Old Trafford boss Ferguson’s handling of young talent as the template.
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Ferguson kept a tight grip on Giggs and, later, David Beckham to ensure they delivered on the pitch and had lasting careers.
Southgate said: “We have a responsibility, very much so. That comes into everything – how much we expose them to the public and how much we put them into commercial situations when they are with us.
“We’re aware of that all the time because it’s very easy for them to enjoy these moments – and they should – but equally, there’s a good balance.
“I always think of Sir Alex [Ferguson] with Ryan Giggs and how he did that so well. They had sustained success because of that.
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“So, although they’re not our players day-to-day, we’ve a responsibility to do that as much as we can, because also we’re putting them onto another level.
“We’ve got to make sure the balance is right for the club, but most importantly the player. Of course, we can’t have the same influence as Sir Alex – he could get them in the office on Monday morning and sort them out!
“But we can still make sure we’re playing them at the right times and recognising when to pull them out.
“I think it’s more what we expose them to off the pitch than on it. It’s about the environment and messages we give them.”
