It says everything about Gareth Southgate’s strange personal journey through this European Championship that there is now talk of him staying on.
Ever since he agreed to remain in post after the Qatar World Cup, Euro 2024 was assumed to be his swansong, a final crack at glory for England’s initially-reluctant manager, who had understandably become a touch jaded by the impossible job.
For much of England’s confounding, exhilarating progress through Germany this summer, Southgate appeared destined for a limp goodbye, his side poised to crash out against Slovakia, then Switzerland, then the Netherlands, in a tournament where all his hard work over eight years looked in danger of coming unstuck.
Now, though, as Southgate stands one game from achieving what he set out to, the mood has dramatically shifted.
Win or lose against Spain in Sunday’s Euros final, the FA hope to persuade the 53-year-old to extend his contract beyond December and lead the nation at a third World Cup, in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026. And why not? If Southgate’s England can be champions of Europe, he might be tempted to conquer the world.
A couple of weeks ago, when Southgate was booed and pelted with stale beer by fans after England’s bore draw with Slovenia in Cologne, the prospect of him staying on as manager beyond a fourth tournament felt wildly remote. Always conscious of overstaying his welcome with supporters, Southgate must have sensed then that his time was nearly up.
“Our world is different at the moment and I feel that is probably because of me,” he said after his side’s tedious progress through the group stage.
Southgate had become an unhelpful distraction, the cause of what he described as an “unusual environment” for his players in Germany. Though he was willing to be a lightning rod for fans’ frustration if it protected his young squad, he has felt the strain of his divisive position and, after the win over Switzerland in the quarter-final, Southgate let slip how taxing his role can be.
“Every now and then, you think surely there has to be some enjoyment in this job,” he said with a smile, when asked about celebrating in front of fans after England’s win on penalties. He was only half-joking.
England’s progress through the knockouts has, though, has felt like redemption, and Southgate appeared to reconnect with fans during Wednesday’s semi-final in Dortmund. Before the game, he took the unusual step of walking across the pitch to acknowledge them, owning the moment, and afterwards he shared what felt like a significant moment in front of the England end.
As the rest of the squad and staff stood back, Southgate screamed and pumped his fists, mouthing “one more”, in scenes reminiscent of his wild, waistcoated celebrations after England’s first knockout win in 10 years over Colombia at the 2018 World Cup.
As a “proud Englishman”, Southgate has always felt connected to England’s travelling support because, as he said on Wednesday, he would be in the stands with them if he did not have the occasionally-onerous privilege of having to pick the team. “We’re kindred spirits in many ways,” he said.
Southgate’s innate feel for tournament football and canny use of his squad has been impressive this summer, but there remains a sense that his side play within themselves and are still, for all their magnificent moments, less than the sum of their parts.
The manager has not silenced his doubters yet and, in reality, he knows he never will. If England beat Spain in Berlin, there will inevitably be accusations that they won the wrong way or in spite of Southgate. This is the price of the job.
Leading England over the line would, of course, move the dial for Southgate, who acknowledged before the tournament that the Euros was effectively win or bust for him. “If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here any more,” he told a German newspaper.
It feels unfair to reduce Southgate’s fate to such a binary outcome, but his legacy and future will inevitably depend in large part on Sunday’s result.
Southgate has been a hugely successful England manager but he will be remembered by many as a ‘nearly man’ if his side suffers another near-miss
There can be no doubt now that Southgate has been a hugely successful England manager — by every metric, the country’s most successful coach since Sir Alf Ramsey — but he will be remembered by many as a ‘nearly man’ if his side suffers another near-miss.
Southgate’s critics will point out that while he taught them to navigate their way through the latter stages of major tournaments, he could not teach them to win.
Only his bitterest critics, though, would deny Southgate his dues if he can lead England past Spain, who have plainly been the best side at this tournament.
There would then be a clamour for him to stay on and take charge of England in 2026, and Southgate might be swayed by the love and feel a duty to keep going. “We all want to be loved, right?” he said on Wednesday. If England are crowned European champions, he will be.
Winning on Sunday would cement Southgate’s place as Ramsey’s rightful heir, forever one of English football’s favourite sons. For him, there is a sense that the final is not just about the next two years and what might come next, it is also about everything that has gone before. All roads lead to Berlin... it all comes down to this.
