Gareth Southgate steps down as England manager after eight years, highlighted by leading the team to back-to-back Euro finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
New Delhi: Gareth Southgate announces his decision to step down as England manager after an illustrious eight-year tenure; under his leadership, England reached the euro 2024 final, where they put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell short with a 2-1 loss to Spain on Sunday. Southgate’s tenure has been marked by significant achievements, including leading the team to the 2018 world cup semi-finals and the euro 2020 final, cementing his legacy as one of England’s most successful managers.
“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,” he said. “But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter.”
Southgate’s contract was due to expire this year and his announcement comes after months of uncertainty surrounding his future. Prior to Euro many fans and football pundits believed that he must resign from his position regardless of the outcome he gets in the tournament.
He was hired in 2016 and led England to back-to-back finals at the Euros and to the semifinals of the World Cup in 2018.
But he was unable to end the nation’s decades-long wait for a major trophy since the World Cup in 1966.He said before the European Championship that it would likely be his last if England did not win and faced fierce criticism during the tournament, which saw some fans throw plastic beer cups towards him at the end of the 0-0 draw with Slovenia during the group phase.
But he achieved what no other England manager has by leading his team to back-to-back Euros finals and the first final on foreign soil.
“Gareth has made the impossible job possible and laid strong foundations for future success. He is held in the highest regard by the players, the backroom team, by everyone at the FA and across the world of football,” FA chief executive Mark Bellingham said
