Gareth Southgate has resigned as England football manager after an eight-year tenure during which the men’s national team reached the World Cup semi-finals and came second in two consecutive European Championships.
The 53-year-old former England player said on Tuesday that it had been “the honour of my life” and “meant everything to me” to hold the role, but that it was “time for change, and for a new chapter”.
His decision came after England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday.
Southgate, who became England manager in 2016, is widely credited with transforming the team’s fortunes after years of poor results and with cultivating a more resilient, positive culture among the players.
Despite the turnaround in its progress at major tournaments under Southgate, the team’s recent performance has divided fans and attracted some criticism.
Throughout this year’s Euros, England were twice booed off the pitch as fans voiced their frustration at poor performances.
Since he was appointed to replace Sam Allardyce in September 2016, Southgate, whose contract ran until December, had managed the Three Lions in four major tournaments.
In the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, England lost 2-1 in extra time to Croatia. In the 2022 World Cup, France beat England 2-1 in the quarter-finals. In the Euro 2020 final, England lost to Italy on penalties.
Prince William, president of the Football Association, the sport’s governing body in England, said Southgate was a “class act” and thanked him “as an England fan”.
He wrote on X: “Thank you for creating a team that stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest in 2024. Thank you for showing humility, compassion, and true leadership under the most intense pressure.”
He added: “You should be incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved.”
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said Southgate had “made the impossible job possible and laid strong foundations for future success”.
“We are very proud of everything Gareth and Steve achieved for England, and will be forever grateful to them,” he added, in a reference to Steve Holland, team assistant manager and coach.
The FA said the process for appointing Southgate’s successor had begun and that it hoped to name a new manager as soon as possible.
“Our Uefa Nations League campaign starts in September, and we have an interim solution in place if it is needed,” said Bullingham. “We know there will be inevitable speculation, but we won’t be commenting further on our process until we appoint.”
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