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Holland, who served as Southgate’s assistant for eight years during their stint at the helm of the Three Lions, revealed that he gave his former mentor an early heads-up ahead of stepping down from the role of the deputy at the conclusion of the Euro…Read More
Steve Holland, Gareth Southgate. (X)
Former England assistant coach Steve Holland, who has been appointed as the head coach of the J League side Yokohama, revealed that he gave his former mentor Gareth Southgate an early heads-up ahead of stepping down from the role of the deputy at the conclusion of the Euro 2024.
“He came to my house and I made it quite clear to him that I wanted to be a head coach,” Holland reflected.
“I also, out of respect for our relationship, wanted him to know early so that he had time to organise who his next assistant would be if he went into another job,” he elucidated.
Southgate has been in between jobs since he stepped down from the mantle at England following the Three Lions’s finals defeat against Spain in Germany in the Euro 2024. When quizzed if Holland was aware of what the former English boss’ next move would be, he iterated that only Southgate himself could provide an answer for the same.
“I speak with Gareth regularly, we have a really strong friendship,” he said.
“I can’t answer the question do I think he’ll be in another job soon, I don’t know the answer to that, you’d have to ask him,” Holland explained.
Holland, who was also an assistant at Chelsea, served as the manager of EFL League Two side Crewe Alexandra between 2007 and 2008 in his only stint at the helm of a club ahead of his time at Yokohama.
The 54-year-old coach voiced his joy in being handed the role of the gaffer at the Japanese club and pressed his desire to head out to the field and get started.
“I’m very happy to be here, this is a really exciting project, and I’m looking forward to getting cracking with the players this season,” he added.
“Very much looking forward to the opportunity that I’ve been given” in Japan.
“Being a head coach is something I’m very ambitious about doing, and I feel very well placed, given the experiences I’ve had to make that step,” Holland added.