Gareth Southgate leaves England job after eight years in charge following Euro 2024 final loss with Eddie Howe and Graham Potter waiting in wings
Gareth Southgate has left his role as England manager, declaring it is time for a 'new chapter'.
The Three Lions suffered heartbreak in the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday, losing 2-1 in Berlin.
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It was back-to-back European Championship final defeats for Southgate, having lost to Italy at Euro 2020 at Wembley.
Speculation immediately turned to whether he would walk away or carry on as England boss.
Straight after the game, he said now was not the time to talk about his future.
Now less than 48 hours after the defeat to Spain, Southgate has taken the decision to leave his role as Three Lions manager.
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He leaves the job having been the most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey won the World Cup in 1966, but ultimately could not deliver a trophy.
Southgate reached two major tournament finals in his eight years in charge.
He also got to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022.
In a statement on his decision to step down, Southgate 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.
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"But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager.
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"I joined the FA in 2011, determined to improve English football. In that time, including eight years as England men’s manager, I have been supported by some brilliant people who have my heartfelt thanks.
"I could not have had anyone better alongside me than Steve Holland. He is one of the most talented coaches of his generation, and has been immense.
"I have had the privilege of leading a large group of players in 102 games. Every one of them has been proud to wear the three lions on their shirts, and they have been a credit to their country in so many ways.
"The squad we took to Germany is full of exciting young talent and they can win the trophy we all dream of. I am so proud of them, and I hope we get behind the players and the team at St. George’s Park and the FA who strive every day to improve English football, and understand the power football has to drive positive change.
"My special thanks go to the backroom staff who have provided the players and me with unstinting support over the last eight years. Their hard work and commitment inspired me every day, and I am so grateful to them – the brilliant ‘team behind the team’.
"We have the best fans in the world, and their support has meant the world to me. I’m an England fan and I always will be.
"I look forward to watching and celebrating as the players go on to create more special memories and to connect and inspire the nation as we know they can.
"Thank you, England – for everything."
Gareth Southgate timeline
Gareth Southgate's Key Moments
27 September 2016 - Southgate was placed in temporary charge following Sam Allardyce’s departure. The England Under-21s manager was initially put in charge for four games.
8 October 2016 - Southgate enjoyed victory in his first game in charge as England beat Malta 2-0 at Wembley with goals from Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli.
30 November 2016 - Southgate signed a four-year deal to become England’s permanent manager.
5 October 2017 - England booked their place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 1-0 win over Slovenia.
3 July 2018 - England beat Colombia in a shoot-out to progress to the quarter-finals.
11 July 2018 - 2-1 extra-time defeat to Croatia in the World Cup semi-final.
28 December 2018 - Southgate was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours list for services to football.
22 June 2021 - England topped their group in Euro 2020 after a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic.
29 June 2021 - Southgate became the first England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey in the 1966 World Cup final to lead his country to victory over Germany in a knockout match with a 2-0 success in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
11 July 2021 - England suffer more heartbreak as they lose the Euro 2020 final and Wembley showpiece to Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
22 November 2021 - Southgate earns a new contract which will run until Euro 2024.
14 June 2022 - England endured a dismal Nations League campaign, which included a 4-0 hammering by Hungary at Molineux - the worst home defeat since 1928.
10 December 2022 - England eased through to the quarter-finals in Qatar before being beaten 2-1 by defending champions France, but the performance of Southgate’s side attracted praise.
18 December 2022 - The FA announced Southgate would stay on to lead England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
18th October 2023 - England qualify for Euro 2024 with a 3-1 win over Italy.
14th July 2024 - England suffer another heartbreak as they lose the Euro 2024 final 2-1 to Spain.
16th July 2024 - The FA announce Southgate has left his role as England manager following England's Euro 2024 campaign.
talkSPORT understands Eddie Howe would be interested in succeeding Southgate.
The Newcastle boss is a contender alongside Graham Potter, Under-21 boss Lee Carsley, and Mauricio Pochettino.
Current England Under-21 boss Carsley, who led his group to Euros success last summer, would appear an obvious contender to take on the job on an interim basis.
FA Chief Mark Bullingham said: "The process for appointing Gareth’s successor is now under way and we aim to have our new manager confirmed as soon as possible.
"Our UEFA Nations League campaign starts in September, and we have an interim solution in place if it is needed.
"We know there will be inevitable speculation, but we won’t be commenting further on our process until we appoint."
Bullingham's statement highlighted just how far England had come on the pitch under Southgate.
"In the 25 tournaments post 1966 before Gareth took charge, we had won seven knockout games. In his four tournaments we have won nine," Bullingham said.
"So, in his eight years, he has won more games that really matter than in the previous 50 years.
"And of course, we have had strong tournament performances throughout their tenure. We came so close to winning the Euros in London and securing the first trophy for our men's team for over 50 years - and came so close again in Berlin on Sunday.
"Before Gareth, our longest time ranked in the top five in the world was seven months. In his tenure we have been ranked there for six years."
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Who next for England: The potential replacements for Gareth Southgate
Bullingham also highlighted Southgate's wider impact on England, beyond the on-field achievements.
"We look back at Gareth's tenure with huge pride - his contribution to the English game, including a significant role in player development, and in culture transformation has been unique," he said.
"Gareth has made the impossible job possible and laid strong foundations for future success. He is held in the highest regard by the players, the backroom team, by everyone at the FA and across the world of football.
"We are very proud of everything Gareth and (his assistant) Steve (Holland) achieved for England, and will be forever grateful to them."
Legends and pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were among those to thank Southgate for the job he's done in charge of the national team.
talkSPORT's England correspondent Faye Carruthers also joined the White and Jordan show to react to the news, and admitted the manager was 'hurt' by the criticism aim at him during the Euros.
“I wasn't expecting this news today," said Faye. "I thought possibly the end of the week, but Gareth Southgate clearly decided that the decision would be made quickly.
“When I spoke to him in the tunnel on Sunday night after the final, he said he needed to speak to the right people first and foremost before he made anything official, but to be honest it felt right from the beginning of this tournament that this would probably be his last one.
“We all expected it because of the narrative that was going on during the tournament - he was quite hurt by a lot of the personal criticism that he received - but I think that now is the time to move on to a new chapter with the England management.
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“What he's put in in terms of the groundwork, it’s been incredible. Getting the team to two major finals, a semi-final of a World Cup, a quarter-final of a World Cup. It's quite incredible and he's made history with this England team. First manager to get an England team to a major final not on English shores. So a huge amount of credit has to go to Gareth Southgate for what he's achieved in his eight years as England manager.
“They're in a pretty good position [to name his successor]. Gareth's contract runs out in December. There was a briefing with [CEO of The FA] Mark Bullingham at the tournament where he said, of course, any organisation the size of the FA would have contingency plans in place and a succession plan in place and that's exactly what they have. I feel as if those talks, discussions, etc. have probably already happened.
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“I would have expected, if I'm honest, that Gareth Southgate would probably be giving his opinion on who potentially could succeed him additionally to that. So the names including Graham Posser, Eddie Howe, etc. I've been very interested to see that Graham Posser's had an opportunity to take other jobs and hasn't. I personally think he's maybe been waiting for the England job.
“But I felt a frustration from him. He had to be persuaded to stay on as England manager after Qatar in 2022 and he had always said, ‘I will never outstay my welcome’. And I think he had found the outside noise, some of the criticism that he'd received from pundits as well as fans, quite difficult, bearing in mind the incredible job that he's done.
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“So I find it very difficult that he received so much criticism with that. He's a proud Englishman and he would have absolutely loved to have lifted a trophy with his country, of course he would have done.
“But I also think that he is a very respectful man. And if he feels as if a large portion of people don't want him to continue, he wouldn't want to continue because it distracts from the team. And ultimately he always puts the team first.”
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