Football. Gareth Southgate is no longer England manager

England national football team manager Gareth Southgate announced on Tuesday that he was stepping down as manager two days after the 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro final.

“The time has come for change and a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my last match as England manager,” he wrote in a message sent by the English FA.
Southgate, who has been in the job for eight years, has led England 102 times.

One failure too many

The Three Lions’ defeat on Sunday in Berlin was one failure too many for him, who had already experienced disappointment during Euro 2021, losing in the final at Wembley to Italy on penalties.

At the 2018 World Cup, the adventure ended in the semi-final against Croatia (2-1 after extra time). Four years later in Qatar, France stopped England in the quarter-final (2-1).

“The squad we have taken to Germany is full of exciting young talent,” Southgate wrote in his farewell message, “and they can lift the trophy we all dream of.”

England football is desperate to win a second title after the World Cup won on home soil in 1966, the only trophy in the FA’s display case.

“Gareth made the impossible mission possible”

“In the 25 (international) competitions since 1966 and before Gareth took over, we had won seven knockout matches. In the four competitions of his tenure, we have won nine. In fact, in eight years, he has won more matches that really matter than in the previous 50 years,” said the Federation’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, in a statement.

“Gareth made the impossible possible and laid the foundations for future success,” he continued. “He is held in the highest regard by the players, the management and everyone at the FA and across the world of football.”
His successor should be named “as soon as possible”, Bullingham said, as the Nations League begins in September.

Among the names tipped to take over, those of Newcastle coach Eddie Howe and two former Chelsea managers, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino, are already circulating.

Southgate was appointed in 2016, when the England team was at its worst, having been knocked out by Iceland in the last 16 of the Euro.

“As a proud Englishman, playing for England and then coaching England has been the honour of my life,” wrote the 53-year-old former international.

“It meant the world to me, and I gave everything for it.”