In a surprising turn of events, Gareth Southgate has announced his resignation as England’s national team manager following their 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. This decision comes despite previous reports suggesting that the Football Association (FA) was planning to retain Southgate regardless of the tournament’s outcome.Southgate, who has been at the helm for nearly eight years, led England through 102 matches. His tenure saw the team reach two European Championship finals (2021 and 2024), a World Cup semi-final (2018), and a World Cup quarter-final (2022). Despite these achievements, Southgate was unable to secure a major trophy for England, with their last significant win dating back to the 1966 World Cup.In a statement released via the FA’s website, Southgate expressed his gratitude and pride: ‘As a proud Englishman, playing and managing for England has been the pride of my life. I’ve given everything I could, but I think it’s time for change and a new chapter’. He also praised the current squad, stating, ‘The team we took to Germany is packed with exciting young talents and they can win the title we all dream of’.The FA has already begun the process of selecting Southgate’s successor. A shortlist of potential candidates has been drawn up, including Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, former Chelsea managers Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel, ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, and England U21 coach Lee Carsley.Southgate’s departure marks the end of an era for English football, leaving behind a legacy of consistent tournament performances and near misses. As the FA looks to the future, the challenge will be to find a manager who can build on Southgate’s foundations and finally bring home a major trophy for the Three Lions.
Key points
- Gareth Southgate has resigned as England’s national team manager after nearly eight years in charge.
- England lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain 2-1, failing to secure a major trophy under Southgate’s leadership.
- The FA has begun the process of selecting Southgate’s successor, with several high-profile managers being considered.
Contradictions👾Previous reports suggested that the FA would retain Southgate regardless of the Euro 2024 outcome, but he has now resigned.
👾While Southgate’s tenure saw consistent tournament performances, he was unable to secure a major trophy for England.
