Gareth Southgate’s eight-year tenure as England manager will be remembered as a period of progress and near misses. While he deserves credit for restoring England as a serious contender on the global stage and leading the team to consistent appearances in the latter stages of major tournaments, he ultimately fell short of claiming the big prizes.
Southgate’s record of near misses leaves him open to criticism. If England had won the Euro 2024 final against Spain, he would have been hailed as a national hero. However, the defeat cemented his legacy as a nearly England manager leading a nearly England team.
Despite this, Southgate can leave with his head held high for the way he handled the unique pressures of being England manager. He brought dignity to the role, tackled thorny subjects off the field, and made a nation fall in love with its football team once again. His willingness to address issues beyond football served him well and made him a respected figure.
Southgate’s reign began in turbulent times for the Football Association (FA) following the failures of previous managers Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson. He quickly embarked on a period of culture change, emphasizing the need for England to learn from other nations, particularly the strong connections between the German football association and the Bundesliga.
Under Southgate’s leadership, England players felt a lifted burden and were proud to represent their country once again. He showed loyalty to players who performed well and was willing to make tough decisions, such as ending Wayne Rooney’s international career and dropping Raheem Sterling after the 2022 World Cup.
Southgate also dealt with issues of racism within football, both at home and abroad. He made it clear that England had its own problems in this regard and should not believe it was something that only existed elsewhere.
However, Southgate’s game management and tactical flexibility came under scrutiny in big moments against high-class opposition. The Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley was a missed opportunity for England, as they allowed Italy to dominate and eventually lost in a penalty shootout.
The aftermath of the Euro 2020 final was marred by fan disorder and racist abuse towards Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka. This further highlighted the challenges Southgate faced as a manager trying to maintain unity among players and supporters.
Southgate considered leaving after the World Cup quarter-final loss to France but ultimately decided to stay. However, his time as England manager came to an end after a disappointing campaign in Germany, where he struggled to find a winning formula and faced fan hostility.
Despite falling short of leading England to a major trophy, Southgate leaves the team in a much better place than when he took over. His record makes him the country’s second-greatest manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, and his impact on the team and its relationship with fans should not be overlooked.