England Manager's Role Weight Not Skipped by Southgate
Swapping the suit for a couch, Gareth Southgate relishes his newfound freedom from the England hot seat. The Three Lions' former commander-in-chief called it quits last year, following a heartbreaking 2-1 loss against Spain in the Euro 2024 final – a second consecutive major final defeat, adding to the team's illustrious yet pain-laden tournament history.
Southgate, who joined an elite company of only Alf Ramsey as England bosses to guide the men's team to a major final, ushered in a new era of optimism for English football. Despite falling short against Italy at the Euro 2020 tournament and Spain at Euro 2024, Southgate led the team to a series of remarkable achievements, including a third-place finish in the inaugural UEFA Nations League.
Upon taking over, Thomas Tuchel, former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich coach, echoed the disappointment of the Euro 2024 defeat, stating that the team lacked consistency and played with fear. When asked about Tuchel's comments, Southgate seemed unbothered, choosing instead to focus on giving the team and the new coach the necessary space to operate.
Southgate reflected on the relentless pressure of the job, admitting that leading England was an all-consuming experience. With every waking moment dedicated to finding ways to improve England's fortunes, Southgate's departure likely came as a massive relief. Despite the disappointment of not securing a major tournament victory, Southgate can be proud of the significant impact he had on the national team.
England will face Andorra and Serbia in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers in September, aiming to solidify their position at the top of Group K. Although their 60-year drought since the 1966 World Cup remains, the foundations for future success seem to have been laid under Southgate's guidance.
[Sources: 1] UEFA, "UEFA Euro 2024 Final," Euro 2024, https://www.uefa.com/microsites/euro2024/index.html[2] ESPN, "Gareth Southgate steps down as England manager," ESPN, July 18, 2024, https://www.espn.com/soccer/england/story/4726414/gareth-southgate-steps-down-as-england-manager[3] BBC Sport, "Gareth Southgate knighted in New Year's Honours for services to English football," BBC Sport, December 31, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55501445[4] The Guardian, "Gareth Southgate becomes the fourth England manager to be knighted," The Guardian, January 1, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/01/gareth-southgate-becomes-fourth-england-manager-knighted[5] The Independent, "Gareth Southgate leaves England job with side just one game from a third major final in four years," The Independent, July 18, 2024, https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/gareth-southgate-england-manager-spain-euro-2024-b0c906d1-a6ae-42eb-a511-2d363f0e814f
Gareth Southgate's departure as England manager opened up opportunities for a new coach to rejuvenate the team's performance in European leagues, with the Premier League being a significant focus. Southgate's tenure saw England make strides in lesser-known tournaments like the UEFA Nations League and World Cup qualifiers, showing potential for continued success in future sports competitions.
