Sammy Lee leaves England role as Gareth Southgate prepares to appoint staff

Sammy Lee has left his role as England's assistant manager, the Football Association has confirmed.

Lee was recruited to Sam Allardyce's backroom staff in July and stayed on after Gareth Southgate was appointed on an interim basis following Allardyce's departure.

Southgate has now been given a four-year contract and wants to assemble his own team of coaches, meaning an end to Lee's second spell with England.

"I have great respect for Sammy," Southgate said. "He is somebody who I worked with as a player and his personality and professionalism were excellent throughout my period as interim manager.

"I felt it was important for me to bring in my own support team and Sammy fully respected that. I was grateful with the way he helped to steady the ship throughout October and November and we wish him well for the future."

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Lee, who also worked under Sven Goran Eriksson, said: "I should like to place on record my sincere thanks to the FA for the opportunity they gave me to work with the national team. It has been a great honour.

"I should also like to thank the players and staff for their support during this period of my career and wish them all the very best for the future. In particular I wish Gareth and his new coaching team every success in the future."

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