Gareth Southgate Resigns As England Manager
England manager Gareth Southgate has resigned two days after defeat by Spain in the 2024 European Championship final.
The Three Lions lost 2-1 in Berlin on Sunday, their second consecutive Euros final defeat, having been beaten on penalties by Italy at Wembley three years ago.
Southgate, 53, managed his country for 102 games in eight years in charge. His contract was set to expire later this year.
“As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England,” said Southgate.
“It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.
“But it’s time for change and for a new chapter.”
Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said the process to appoint Southgate’s successor has started and “we aim to have our new manager confirmed as soon as possible”.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham says England aims to have a new manager “as soon as possible” but that an interim boss will be in place “if needed” for the UEFA Nations League campaign, which begins against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, September 7.
You May Also Read: Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku Agrees Three Year Contract With Napoli
FA sources suggested they were “very unlikely to restrict the selection process to just English managers”. Under-21 boss Lee Carsley could be a candidate for an interim solution.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter, and ex-Chelsea and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino are among the early favourites.
There is also some speculation around ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, who left Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
Southgate stepped up from the U21s to take charge of the senior side following Sam Allardyce’s abrupt exit in September 2016 and guided England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
The former England defender then led his side to the final of Euro 2020, which they lost on penalties to Italy at Wembley – before a quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup.
His final tournament in charge was this summer, as England were edged out 2-1 by Spain in the final. England became the first team in the history of the European Championships to lose consecutive finals.
