ANDY WOODMAN will cheer on best mate Gareth Southgate from his sofa on Sunday — and says the England boss deserves the nation’s full support.
The pair have been friends since they were 14-year-old youth players at Crystal Palace, and former keeper Woodman was Southgate’s best man at his wedding in 1997.
And the Bromley boss, who has just led them into the EFL for the first time, is baffled by critics who have lined up to take shots at his pal this summer.
Woodman, 52, said: “The criticism has been disgusting.
“When I see the ex-team-mates, pundits and journalists Gareth knows well — and he’s given them access to him and the team — suddenly saying things for clickbait or for their own agendas, that’s not right.
“He’s the most successful manager in England’s history. We know Sir Alf Ramsey won a trophy — and Gareth hasn’t yet — but back-to-back Euro finals and a World Cup semi is still phenomenal.
“People forget the national team was previously so detached from the country, it was horrific.
“We had years where we were so disconnected, but now have a team we’re proud of and manager we should be proud of.
“Gareth is patriotic and gets it — and yet people want to criticise.”
Woodman, father of Preston goalie Freddie, believes Southgate will be more hurt by the effect the flak has had on family and friends.
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Southgate is also Freddie’s godfather.
Woodman said: “Gareth will be more worried about that and want to protect them.
“He’s got a wife, two lovely children and parents that followed him all over the world in his career.
“People need to seriously think about that when they say hurtful and personal things about Gareth, including idiots on social media.”
Ahead of Sunday’s Euros final showdown with Spain, Woodman says Southgate has taken the worry out of playing for England.
He said: “Gareth’s made these boys want to play for him and without fear.
“In some games, if fear had taken over, we’d have lost and been out.
“These boys have gone the other way, been in bad situations and run through a brick wall to get the win or the result in the dying seconds.
“That tells you everything about the players playing for the manager.”
Woodman has been in regular contact with his pal during the Euros and considered jumping on a plane to be in Berlin tonight.
But he decided to watch in the comfort of his own home with family instead.
And if Southgate does lead England to a historic win, his mate believes King Charles should give him a knighthood.
Woodman laughed and added: “He gets my blessing but we’ll have to establish some rules as it’s going to kill me to say, ‘Pass the salt and pepper, Sir Gareth!’ ”
England have played Spain 27 times in total - here is a look at every result...
Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.
