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Tag: Southgate

  • Ex-England manager Southgate to be knighted in 2025

    Ex-England manager Southgate to be knighted in 2025

    Former England manager Gareth Southgate is set to be knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours, becoming the fourth Three Lions boss to receive this prestigious recognition. 

    He will join the ranks of Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey, and Sir Bobby Robson.

    The 54-year-old will be honoured for his transformative influence on English football during his eight-year tenure as national team manager, a period widely regarded as one of the most successful in recent history. 

    According to The Sun, the knighthood for services to sport will be formally conferred in early 2025.

    Appointed in late 2016 under challenging circumstances following Sam Allardyce’s resignation, Southgate inherited a demoralised squad but quickly rejuvenated English football. His leadership brought pride back to fans after years of disappointment.

    Under Southgate, England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, their best performance since 1990. 

    The team secured third place in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 and made consecutive appearances in the European Championship finals. 

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    England came agonisingly close to triumph in the delayed Euro 2020 final but lost to Italy in a dramatic penalty shootout.

    Southgate’s tenure concluded with a narrow 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, marking the end of a transformative era.

    Awarded an OBE in 2019, Southgate’s impending knighthood is a fitting tribute to a career defined by dignified leadership, innovation, and success both on and off the pitch.

    A source close to the Honours Committee told The Sun: “Gareth is a football legend who achieved great things this year. 

    He inspired a nation, reignited belief in the Three Lions, and brought the team to the brink of success time and time again.”

    Southgate’s knighthood will place him alongside England’s most iconic footballing figures.

    He will join Sir Walter Winterbottom, the national team’s first manager; Sir Alf Ramsey, the mastermind behind England’s 1966 World Cup victory; and Sir Bobby Robson, who guided the team to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, as the only England managers to receive this prestigious honour.

    While some critics have questioned Southgate’s pragmatic style and bemoaned missed opportunities, his broader impact is undeniable. His leadership reshaped England’s international reputation, instilling a culture of discipline, unity, and renewed hope.

    After stepping down this summer following another near-miss in a major tournament, Southgate’s legacy as one of the most transformative figures in English football remains secure.

    With letters confirming the Honours Committee’s decisions already sent, Southgate is set to take his place among the greats of English football— a well-deserved tribute to a career devoted to the beautiful game.

  • Southgate open to future ‘outside football’

    Southgate open to future ‘outside football’

    Former England manager Gareth Southgate said he is in no rush to return to management and could even step away from football for his next job.

    Southgate resigned as boss of the Three Lions in July, ending an eight-year reign, shortly after a defeat by Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

    The 54-year-old has been linked as a potential successor to under-fire Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag but he shot down the possibility of a quick return to the dugout.

     “People know I need to get some energy back and enjoy my life. I’m not going to rush anything and need to make good decisions,” Southgate told Sky News. “I’ve got lots of opportunities. I’m open-minded to what is next in or outside football. I’ll take some time, refresh and recharge and go from there.”

    England interim manager Lee Carsley has made a bright start to his attempt to earn the job on a permanent basis with victories over the Republic of Ireland and Finland in the Nations League.

    Southgate said the freshness brought about by a new coaching staff and a collection of new players justified his decision to step away.

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    But he said his time in charge had put England “back on the map” at major international tournaments.

    Under Southgate, England also reached the final of Euro 2020, the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the last eight of the 2022 World Cup.

    However, they fell short of ending their long wait for a first major tournament triumph since lifting the 1966 World Cup on home soil.

     “We raised expectations and we needed to put English football back on the map and we’re now consistently at the top table,” added Southgate, himself a former England centre-back.

     “It was the right time for change. You see now the hope that change can bring. I’m content with that. Eight years is a long time and I’m looking forward to different challenges ahead – and enjoying the rest.

     “I had an incredible eight-year journey. It was a privilege to work with brilliant players. We wanted to do that final piece, we achieved so much and it would have been perfection to win the final. I’m sure the team will go on to be successful.”

  • BREAKING: Southgate resigns as England manager

    BREAKING: Southgate resigns as England manager

    Gareth Southgate has announced his resignation as the England national team manager following their 2-1 defeat against Spain in EURO 2024.

    Over his eight-year tenure and 102 games in charge, Southgate became the first manager of the England men’s team to reach two finals and the first to reach a final outside of England.

    The 53-year-old stepped up from managing the U21 team to take over the senior side following Sam Allardyce’s sudden exit in September 2016.

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    He guided England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and then led the team to the final of Euro 2020, where they lost to Italy on penalties at Wembley.

    He also saw the team to a quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup.

    Although Southgate’s contract with the FA was set to expire at the end of this year, he had admitted in an interview before EURO 2024 that he would step down if he did not win the trophy.

    He said: “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. I’m leaving my role.”

  • Southgate, Koeman recollect memories of playing Euro semi-final rivals

    Southgate, Koeman recollect memories of playing Euro semi-final rivals

    Gareth Southgate’s England and Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands meet in the Euro 2024 semi-finals on today and both managers have fond memories of facing the same opposition as players at the European Championship, but with contrasting final outcomes.

    The Dutch went into Euro 1988 with Koeman at the heart of their defence in a side which included Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, and Koeman’s older brother Erwin, currently his assistant manager.

    England and Netherlands met at the group stage in a crunch game after they had both lost their opening match, with England shocked by Ireland and the Dutch downed by the Soviet Union.

    England hit the woodwork twice in the first half before Van Basten put the Dutch ahead and, although Bryan Robson pulled his side level after the break, Van Basten went on to complete his hat-trick in a 3-1 win.

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    Koeman scored a penalty in the 2-1 semi-final win over hosts West Germany, but is probably best remembered for what happened after that game, swapping jerseys with Olaf Thon and pretending to wipe his backside with it.

    The Netherlands went on to win their first and to date only major trophy, beating the Soviets in the final, with Koeman one of six Dutch players named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.

    Koeman played his last international game at the 1994 World Cup while Southgate made his England debut at the end of 1995, and was an ever-present in the team which shouldered England’s dreams at Euro 1996.

    England played the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium in the final group game, with both sides level on four points at the top of Group A, and the hosts put in what was seen by many as one of their finest ever performances.

    England put on a masterclass against the Dutch, taking a 4-0 lead with Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham each scoring twice before Patrick Kluivert pulled one back 12 minutes from time, a goal which put them through at Scotland’s expense.

    That victory had England really believing, and a penalty shootout success followed against Spain, but a 1-1 semi-final draw with Germany meant they would face penalties once more.

    Both sides put away their opening five spot-kicks before Southgate stepped up for the first sudden death penalty, putting his effort was too close to the goalkeeper. Andreas Moeller converted his kick and Germany went on to win the Euros.

    England went 22 years without a win over the Netherlands after that victory, but Southgate was at the helm when they ended the drought in a 1-0 friendly success in 2018, Koeman’s first game as the Dutch side’s manager.