Gareth Southgate Resigns As England Manager After Second Euro Final Loss

The English football team manager, 53-year-old Gareth Southgate has resigned from his role after eight years. 

 

The Football Association had hoped he would extend his contract after he led the team to the final of Euro 2024 but Southgate has decided to seek a new challenge, according to EURO sports.

 

“As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England.

 

“It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all. But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager,” Southgate said.

 

He is England’s most successful manager in terms of consistent major tournament performance. England also reached the European Championship final in 2021, losing to Italy, and a World Cup semi-final in 2018, when they were beaten by Croatia. In his other World Cup, the team were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals.

 

Newcastle’s Eddie Howe, the former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter and the former Bayern Munich and Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel are near the top of the FA’s shortlist to succeed Southgate.

 

England’s next fixtures are against the Republic of Ireland and Finland in the Nations League in September.

 

“The squad we took to Germany is full of exciting young talent and they can win the trophy we all dream of,” Southgate said.

 

“I am so proud of them, and I hope we get behind the players and the team at St. George’s Park and the FA who strive every day to improve English football, and understand the power football has to drive positive change.”

 

Southgate signed a contract to December because he and the FA wanted to create breathing space after Euro 2024 to make a decision. But Southgate made clear before the final defeat by Spain that he would not need long to make up his mind.

 

Southgate spent much of the Euros under huge pressure after poor England performances in the group stage and in the last 16 against Slovakia. He had empty beer cups thrown at him and boos directed at him after England drew 0-0 with Slovenia in their final group match.

 

After the Slovenia game Southgate said he understood “the narrative towards me” but that it was “creating an unusual ­environment to operate in”.

 

Southgate took charge of England, initially on a caretaker basis, in September 2016 after Sam Allardyce’s sudden departure. He had indicated he thought his time would be up if England did not win in Germany.