Gareth Southgate is no longer England manager. After losing two finals at the European Championships, in 2021 to Italy on penalties at Wembley and last Sunday in Berlin against Spain, the 53-year-old coach announced his resignation. “As a proud Englishman, it was the greatest honour of my life to play for and then coach England,” he said in farewell. “It meant everything to me and I gave it everything I had. But it’s time for a change, to start a new chapter.”
Only English manager since Sir Alf Ramsey to reach a major tournament final with the Three LionsSouthgate – promoted from the Under 21s – had been in charge since 2016 and also reached the semi-finals of the World Cup played in Russia in 2018 while in Qatar he stopped in the quarter-finals. For him, in total, 102 benches, with a record of 61 victories (59.8%, third best English coach ever), 24 draws and 17 defeats.
“The team we took to Germany was full of young and exciting talent, who could have won that trophy we all dreamed of,” Southgate recalled. “I am proud of them and we must continue to support them.”
“I can’t wait to celebrate when these guys create even more special memories and inspire the country as we know they can. I’m an England fan and I always will be, thanks for everything,” added the now ex-coach. “He transformed the England team in the last eight years and his results have been extraordinary – the tribute from Mark Bullingham, CEO of the Football Association – In 25 tournaments after 1966, before he arrived, we had won seven knockout games. Gareth, in 4 tournaments, has won nine.” Southgate’s contract would have expired in December but the Federation was ready to confirm its faith in him until the 2026 World Cup. Now the hunt for a successor begins. According to the “Guardian”, there are three “hot” names. One is Eddie Howe, who is doing very well at Newcastle, then there is Graham Potter, looking for redemption after being sacked at Chelsea, but a foreign solution such as Thomas Tuchel, free after the divorce from Bayern Munich. More low-key options include Mauricio Pochettino, also without a bench after leaving Chelsea, Lee Carsley, current coach of the English Under-21 team, European champions, and two great former midfielders such as Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.