Players, pundits and personalities from across the North have been reacting to England manager Gareth Southgate’s resignation earlier today folloing Sunday’s Euro 2024 defeat at the hands of Spain on Sunday.
Southgate announced his decision via a staement on the England Football website, saying: “As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.
“But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager.
“I joined the FA in 2011, determined to improve English football. In that time, including eight years as England men’s manager, I have been supported by some brilliant people who have my heartfelt thanks.
“I could not have had anyone better alongside me than Steve Holland. He is one of the most talented coaches of his generation, and has been immense.
“I have had the privilege of leading a large group of players in 102 games. Every one of them has been proud to wear the three lions on their shirts, and they have been a credit to their country in so many ways.
“The squad we took to Germany is full of exciting young talent and they can win the trophy we all dream of. I am 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 every day to improve English football, and understand the power football has to drive positive change.
“My special thanks go to the backroom staff who have provided the players and me with unstinting support over the last eight years. Their hard work and commitment inspired me every day, and I am so grateful to them – the brilliant ‘team behind the team’.
“We have the best fans in the world, and their support has meant the world to me. I’m an England fan and I always will be.
“I look forward to watching and celebrating as the players go on to create more special memories and to connect and inspire the nation as we know they can.
“Thank you, England – for everything.”
Former Manchester United defender, regular pundit, and occasional Guest Dragon Gary Neville told Sky Sports: “He has had an amazing eight years and exceeded all expectations of every single England fan,” he told Sky Sports. “He deserves to call it a day on his own terms, and he has done that. He knows England better than anybody. It was the right moment for him, he has done an outstanding job.
“He has achieved incredible things on the pitch, but he has also achieved incredible things off the pitch. How difficult it is to manage the politics of England, the media, the club-versus-country rivalries which existed, he has removed a lot of those barriers. He has handled penalties better than anybody, reduced the fear, so he has done an incredible job, but it will have taken a toll on him.”
Neville was a little more brief on X (Twitter), where he simply thanked Southgate for a “great job.”
Manchester United’s Stockport-born wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo, one of the brightest stars of England’s tournament in Germany, was also keeping the words to a minimum, simply Tweeting: “Thank you for everything.”
Former Radio Hallam and Key 103 sports presenter, BBC Breakfast and Football Focus presenter, and current 5 News anchor Dan Walker was full of praise for a “thoroughly decent bloke.”
While ex-Newcastle and Blackburn striker, and Match of the Day regular, Alan Shearer told BBC Sport: “I wasn’t surprised. Maybe he made his mind up before the tournament, if England were to go on and win it.
“What I do know is that he should be applauded for everything that he has done. He has taken England from rock bottom after that Iceland result in 2016 to a semi-final and finals.
“We said during this Euros they might not have played as well as they could have, but the atmosphere he has created helped them through to another final.
“In the bigger picture, Gareth should be applauded for everything he has done with England. The expectation is now you have to get to finals and win trophies.”
New PM Keir Starmer, himself a Leeds Uni alumnus, also got in on the action, thanking Southgate and predicting “future success” on the groundworks Southgate has laid, ahead of a lengthy statement:
Although Southgate was frequently a divisive figure among fans, there can be little doubting his record. In the four tournaments since he took over as England boss, the side have been defeated in teo Euros finals, a World Cup semi and a World Cup quarter-final, with a 61% win record and just the small matter of an actual trophy ultimately eluding the Three Lions, a point of order noted by Edinburgh Fringe regular, comic Sean McLoughlin:
Former Leeds midfielder and TV regular Chris Kamara was in agreement:
Attention will now turn to Southgate’s replacement ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, taking place in Canada, Mexico and the US. The likes of Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, former Manchester United boss José Mourinho, and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe have all featured highly on fans’ wishlists so far.
(Image courtesy 5News/YouTube)
