After eight years and 102 games, Gareth Southgate has stepped down from his role as manager of the England men’s football team following their defeat in the final of Euro 2024. Under his leadership, England reached two European Championship finals (including the first major tournament final abroad by an England men’s team), and a World Cup semi-final.
These achievements are bettered by only one of his predecessors, Sir Alf Ramsey, under whom England won the 1966 World Cup. Yet despite this success, Southgate has faced constant criticism for his playing style, his late substitutions and, in this tournament in particular, for “lacking ideas”.
As football fans, we always focus on the end product – performances and results – and overlook the process that goes into creating an international team capable of consistently challenging for titles. Under Southgate, England have been transformed from an underperforming team of talented players to a team that is resilient and believes in itself. To understand his full impact, we need to reflect on the culture of the men’s team which Southgate inherited after Sam Allardyce’s short-lived time as manager in 2016.
