Gareth Southgate quits as England manager: ‘It’s time for a change’

Gareth Southgate has left his role as manager of the England men’s team.

Southgate’s decision comes after England’s defeat in the European Championship final at the hands of Spain on Sunday.

After that game, the 53-year-old played down any concerns over his future with his contract set to expire in December.

“As a proud Englishman, playing for England and managing England has been the honor of my lifetime. “It means everything to me and I have given it my all,” Southgate said in a statement via the FA on Tuesday.

“But it is time for change and a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my last game as England manager.

“I have had the privilege of leading a great group of players in 102 games. Each of them is proud to wear the Three Lions on their shirt, and they have been a credit to their country in many ways.

“The team we took to Germany is full of exciting young talent and they can win the trophy we all dream of. I am very proud of him, and I hope that we at St George’s Park and the FA will support the players and team who strive every day to make English football better, and understand that it is important to bring positive change to football. There is strength.

“I look forward to watching and celebrating as players create more special memories and connect and inspire the country as we know they can.”

Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland has also left his role.

Southgate joined the England team as under-21 head coach in 2013. The former Middlesbrough manager was given interim charge of the senior team in September 2016 following the resignation of Sam Allardyce and his appointment was made permanent two months later.

England’s last two major tournaments had seen them lose to Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016 and exit in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup, and expectations were measured ahead of the 2018 World Cup, with the Football Association ( FA) had emphasized this point. Long term planning was in place.

However, Southgate led England to the semi-finals – the men’s team’s first major tournament semi-final since 1996, and first at the World Cup since 1990. Southgate received critical praise for the much improved, positive team culture he created.

England defeated Colombia on penalties in the last-16 and the victory was particularly poignant for Southgate as he had missed the decisive penalty for England in the Euro 96 semi-final. The England manager worked to change the mentality around penalties and ensure his side was prepared for the eventuality, and in doing so ended a run of five consecutive major tournament shootout defeats.

England later lost 2–1 to Croatia in extra time in the semi-finals, having beaten Sweden 2–0 in the previous round.

Ahead of Euro 2020, Southgate wrote an open letter to supporters in the Players’ Tribune as the country emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. He wrote about what it means to represent England, the team’s culture and identity and expressed the importance of his side speaking out on issues of equality and racial injustice. The England team took a knee before every Euro 2020 match.

Southgate’s team reached the Euro 2020 final – the men’s first major tournament final since 1966. They defeated Germany, Ukraine and Denmark in the knockout stage, with wins against Germany and Denmark at Wembley Stadium.

After a 1-1 tie for 120 minutes, the final went to penalties. Italy won the shootout 4–3 after Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford missed penalties – the latter two being brought on as 120th-minute substitutes by Southgate.

It was speculated that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be Southgate’s last in charge of England. He led the team to the quarter-finals where they lost to eventual runners-up France. Captain Harry Kane missed a late penalty in the 2–1 defeat and it was later confirmed that Southgate would remain as England manager.

England were among several countries that intended to wear OneLove armbands at the tournament, seen as a sign of solidarity with LGBTQI+ people, who are criminalized in Qatar. However, they backed out after being threatened with sporting sanctions by FIFA. Southgate later acknowledged that members of the LGBTQI+ community felt “disappointed” by the decision.

Ahead of Euro 2024, Southgate opted not to select Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, who were previously regular players in his squad.

The team struggled to perform during the tournament and scored only two goals in the group stage. They needed a Jude Bellingham overhead kick in the last minute to avoid elimination by Slovakia in the last 16, after which Kane scored the winner in extra time.

Southgate’s team defeated Switzerland in a penalty shootout in their quarter-final after a 1–1 draw, before going on to win 2–1 against the Netherlands in the semi-final, with Ollie Watkins coming off the bench to score the last. -Minute Winner.

In Sunday’s final, England fell behind through Nico Williams shortly after half-time, before substitute Cole Palmer equalized in the 73rd minute. Spain’s own substitute Mikel Oyarzabal, however, scored the winner with minutes remaining, ending England’s second consecutive losing season in Euro finals.

(Top photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)