'Gareth Southgate is special'

Southgate became a national hero over the summer as he led England to a first World Cup semi-final in 28 years.

Before naming the squad for the upcoming internationals this month, Southgate was rewarded a new contract as the national team manager that will see him remain in his post until 2022.

Former England striker Crouch, who now plays for Stoke City, thinks that the move is exactly the right one, and that Southgate can bring even more success to the 'Three Lions'.

"If it had been up to me to renew Gareth Southgate's deal, I'd have done exactly what FA chief executive Martin Glenn did on Thursday. If ever a man deserved to buck the trend for short-termism, it is Southgate. He deserved four years." Crouch wrote in the 'Daily Mail'.

"Nobody knows better than Southgate who is coming through. Given England have won the Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups, not to mention the Under-19 European Championship, it is obvious there is a special generation emerging and Southgate is the perfect man to guide them on their way.

"This is not how it was when I played for England. The squads I was involved with were full of established players and it very rarely changed. It is why so many of the lads ended up either becoming centurions or getting very close to 100 caps.

"[Southgate] is brave and there are going to be bumps along the way - that is what happens with those who are precocious and learning - but apart from feeling old when I saw the 25 names for the games against Spain and Croatia, I also felt positive and excited. It is fresh."