Gareth Southgate and the Football Association have confirmed a two-year contract extension for the England manager, taking him up to the end of 2024 and covering the next European Championships.
With his original deal due to expire after the 2022 World Cup, speculation had been mounting in recent weeks that a further deal was in the offing for the man who took over as interim manager in September 2016 but who has since taken the national team to the final four at Russia 2018 and the last two of this summer's Euros.
His 68 games in charge to date have seen the Three Lions notch 44 wins and 10 draws, qualification for the major tournaments having been achieved with ease.
But his off-field achievements have also brought a sense of pride and purpose back to a national team that looked in danger of becoming irrelevant after the dismal performance at Euro 2016 and the subsequent departure of Sam Allardyce after just one game in charge.
"We have to make sure our team evolves and is always competitive," said Southgate when speaking to the press about his new deal.
"We're now in a group of teams who can genuinely challenge. That wasn't the case six or seven years ago.
"We went with hope, but now we can be genuinely be positive."