As he promised before UEFA Euro 2024, Gary Southgate left England’s bench because they failed to become European champions again.
Southgate left after eight years
Even before the tournament, Southgate announced that he would retire from the English national team bench if this national team did not win the tournament in Germany. Although it is the cradle of football, England did not manage to become European champion this time either, so they will have to wait at least four more years for their first title. In four years, England will be one of the hosts, so it will be a great opportunity for this national team to finally become European champions in front of the home fans. Southgate spent eight years on the bench and significantly improved the national team, which recorded much better results than before his arrival.
Before working in the senior team, he worked in the U-21 national team and sat on the bench after the debacle that England experienced at Euro 2016 when they were eliminated by Iceland at the start of the knockout phase. Southgate made his first appearance at a major competition at the 2018 World Cup and immediately reached the finals. He was only one step away from reaching the finals in the first competition, but Croatia was still better than his selection in the semi-finals. Three years later at the postponed UEFA Euro, Southgate and his men reached the final, which was the first time in history that England played in the final of the European Championship.
In the final match, Southgate made several strange roles because he made several changes before the very end of extra time, and then those players he introduced took penalties at the same time. It was Sancho and Rashford, while the last penalty kick was intended for the then still insufficiently experienced Bukayo Saka. It was not a good decision because Saka was inaccurate and Italy could have started celebrating at Wembley. Southgate’s worst result during his tenure on the bench of the national team came in 2022 at the World Cup, as England lost in the quarter-finals to France in Qatar.
England was not subordinate at all in the match with the later finalist, and who knows what would have happened if the captain and the best scorer in the history of the national team, Harry Kane, had not missed a penalty in the regular part of the match. Before coming to Germany, England was one of the main favorites to win the title, but Southgate, like three years before, only managed to reach the final and not the title. Having not achieved the desired goal, Southgate kept his word and left the national team bench with dignity. In his farewell letter, Southgate wrote the following:
“As a proud Englishman, I’m honored to have played for England and to have led England. It was everything in the world to me and I put my whole self into it. But it’s time for a change, for a new chapter. Sunday’s final against Spain was my last game as England manager. I joined the FA, determined to improve English football.
During that time, including eight years as a manager, I was supported by a group of people who deserve my deepest gratitude A better man than Steve Holland. He is one of the most talented players of his generation. I have had the privilege of leading a great group of players went to Germany was full of young talent who can lift the trophy we all dream of.
I’m so proud of them and I hope we get behind the players and the team at St George’s Park and the FA who strive to improve English football every day and understand the power of football to initiate positive change. I owe special thanks to the coaching staff, who have provided the football players and me with unconditional support over the last eight years.
Their hard work and dedication inspire me every day and for that I am grateful – a brilliant team behind the team. We have the best fans in the world. Their support meant everything to me. I am an England fan and always will be. I look forward to watching and making new memories that these players will make, connect and inspire the nation. England, thank you!”
England did not shine in the recently concluded tournament and despite this they managed to reach the final where they were ultimately deservedly defeated by Spain although things could have gone the other way in that match as well. Southgate has obviously realized that he has reached the ultimate limits with this national team and that in order to win a major competition, a change of coach is needed.
Southgate led England for 102 games and achieved 61 wins, 24 draws and 17 defeats. This means that he achieved a winning percentage of 59.8 percent and the best performance was Fabio Capello who had a 66.7 percent success rate. Southgate is the third most-capped manager and the only one who managed to lead England to two finals of major competitions.
