Gareth Southgate’s decision to resign as England manager may have been the right one, but he leaves behind a positive legacy that will greatly benefit his successor. Despite the disappointment of England’s loss in the Euro 2024 final, Southgate’s overall success and transformation of the team cannot be denied. He took over a dysfunctional team that had just suffered a humiliating defeat to Iceland in Euro 2016 and completely changed the atmosphere within the squad.
Under Southgate’s leadership, the players became more united and there was no longer a sense of paranoia or a siege mentality. He encouraged them to express themselves and tell their own story, creating a club-like atmosphere within the national team. This change was evident in the way the players greeted each other at St George’s Park, with genuine camaraderie and friendship.
Southgate was not afraid to make tough decisions and dropped several high-profile players, including Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Jack Wilshere, Chris Smalling, and Dele Alli. He favored younger talents like Jack Grealish, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson, and Harry Maguire. While some fans and pundits felt he was too lenient with his favorites, it’s important to remember the state of the team before his tenure. England had been performing poorly in major tournaments and were considered a joke globally.
Now that Southgate has stepped down, the question arises of who should succeed him as England manager. While there is a natural preference for an English successor, it’s crucial for the FA to be ambitious and consider the best candidates regardless of nationality. There is a wealth of overseas managerial talent with significant Premier League experience, such as Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti, and Thomas Tuchel.
Despite criticism throughout his tenure, Southgate managed to lead England to significant moments in international football. There were instances where fine margins and missed opportunities prevented even greater success. For example, a 10/10 performance from Joe Hart in a World Cup qualifier against Slovenia allowed England to escape with a goalless draw and ultimately led to Southgate being appointed full-time. In the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia, England could have reached the final if Harry Kane had passed the ball to Raheem Sterling. And in Euro 2020, England’s penalty misses cost them the title.
It’s clear that Southgate experienced a great deal of criticism during Euro 2024, which likely influenced his decision to resign. He was upset by the digs from pundits and fans, as well as incidents like having beer thrown at him. After eight years of changing the culture and achieving positive results with England, Southgate felt he deserved better treatment.
As Southgate moves on from his role as England manager, it will be intriguing to see where he ends up. He believes he has done enough to secure a big job, but it remains to be seen who will take a chance on him. While some fans may not want him at their Premier League clubs, there is a possibility that Dan Ashworth, the sporting director at Manchester United, who knows Southgate well from their time together at the FA, may consider him.
Regardless of what comes next for Southgate, it’s important to recognize his contributions and the positive changes he made during his tenure. He leaves with his head held high and deserves respect for the impact he had on English football. Gareth Southgate may not have won any major trophies, but he certainly changed everything for the better.