New Delhi: Gareth Southgate has announced that he is resigning as the England manager after eight years at the job. His English side came close to finally clinching a major international title after 58 years against Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 final. However, the English manager failed to deliver yet again at the big stage after reaching the final two consecutive times (UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024). Even though Gareth Southgate is the most successful manager in the men’s England National Football Team, he has nothing to show for it in eight years.
Nico Williams’ goal at the 47th minute put Spain forward in the UEFA Euro 2024, but Cole Palmer equalised it at the 73rd minute. Altthough it seemed that the momentum had shifted towards England, and Gareth Southgate finally finishes his story of bringing a cup home, Spain broke all the English hearts with Oyarzabal’s 86th minute winner. England yet again failed to hold on at the crucial stages and ended up losing another chance to win a title.
Gareth Southgate managed England for almost eight years, overseeing 102 matches during his time in charge. Under his leadership, the team won 61 games, drew 24, and lost 17. They scored 213 goals and conceded 72. His win rate of 59.8% wasn’t as high as Fabio Capello, Glenn Hoddle, or Ron Greenwood, but it was slightly better than Sven Eriksson. His real real achievement was leading England to new heights. He took the team to their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years and reached the European Championship finals in both 2020 and 2024, something no other England manager had done before.
Reports were roaming around regarding Southgate’s future as many fans looked for change in the leadership. However, many fans had applauded his efforts and wanted the English manager to continue and lead the team for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The news has had conflicted reactions on the social media, with fans wondering about the question regarding the highs and lows of Southgate as England National Football Team manager to evaluate the news.
Gareth Southgate: The highs of the England stint
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Gareth Southgate, Head Coach of England celebrates their side’s victory after the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Semi-final match between England and Denmark at Wembley Stadium on July 07, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Frank Augstein – Pool/Getty Images)
Gareth Southgate arrived in 2016, replacing Sam Allardyce. The English football team struggled in major tournaments previously, but a certain belief and change occured with Southgate’s arrival. Consistency became a norm during Qualifier campaigns and friendlies, making England rise from the ashes and become a contender in the international tournaments.
The 53-year-old’s time as England manager brought a lot of success, especially compared to the team’s past struggles in the European Championships. After their third-place finish in 1968, England had a tough time, failing to qualify for the tournaments in 1972 and 1976 and often exiting early in later editions. In the 1980s and early 1990s, they struggled to make it past the group stages.
Even with the “Golden Generation,” which included stars like Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, and John Terry, and under managers like Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson, England couldn’t seem to get past the semi-finals despite their club-level success.
When Southgate came along, things started to change. Unlike his predecessors, he focused on making the defence stronger and using smart tactics. This approach turned England into a team that could handle tough matches and the pressure of knockout stages.
Under Southgate, England did more than just compete in the European Championships—they excelled. The team showed new mental strength, with moments like Jude Bellingham’s late-game goals and Jordan Pickford’s crucial penalty saves standing out. While Southgate’s style of play wasn’t always the most exciting to watch, it worked, which was a big improvement from past vulnerabilities. His antics helped Emgland reach consecutive UEFA Euro finals, which is a historic record itself.
After Southgate resigned, his legacy was clear. He brought stability and strength to the national team, marking a period of progress and achievement that gave England a new sense of hope on the international stage.
The lows that ended the “Southgate Dream” for the England National Football Team
BERLIN, GERMANY – JULY 14: Gareth Southgate manager / head coach of England stands with the team after the UEFA EURO 2024 final match between Spain and England at Olympiastadion on July 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Gareth Southgate enjoyed a positive rapport with both fans and media up until 2022. However, the match against Hungary in the UEFA Nations League marked a turning point, eroding the credibility of the “Southgate Dream.” England’s 1-0 defeat to Hungary raised concerns about their inability to attack despite having a superior squad. The situation worsened when England suffered a humiliating 4-0 loss to Hungary in the second leg.
This defeat marked England’s most significant home loss since 1928 and extended their winless streak to four matches, a feat not seen in eight years. Consequently, England was relegated to League B of the Nations League, having failed to win any of their six matches in a group that featured Italy and Germany.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, England reached the semi-finals, and fans began to believe in Southgate’s vision once more. However, their hopes were dashed when they lost 2-1 to a spirited French side. Tchouaméni opened the scoring for France, and Harry Kane equalised with a penalty. Despite this, England’s players sat back, allowing immense pressure from the French. This defensive error led to Olivier Giroud scoring for France in the 78th minute. England had another chance to equalise with a penalty, but Kane missed, resulting in another disappointment for English fans.
The UEFA Euro 2024 performance attracted enormous criticism globally. Southgate faced memes and critical statements for his reluctance to attack and preference for a defensive strategy, even when trailing. The final became a crucial test for Southgate, but England’s curse continued. After Cole Palmer scored, the team sat back, allowing the young Spanish squad to find space and score in the final minutes to win the match. This reluctance to attack led to another loss on the biggest stage, causing an outrage among fans on social media since 14th July 2024.
Now, two days later, Gareth Southgate has decided to resign after eight years as England manager. Despite failing to secure a trophy, Southgate’s contributions to team management and culture will be remembered for years. His tenure will go down in history as one of the most significant in English football, marking him as one of the most successful managers of the England National Football Team.
Gareth Southgate’s “dream” has now come to an end. Let’s look back at the highs and lows of the former England manager who significantly impacted the England National Football Team, for better and worse. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
