Southgate ends up on the England bench! It’s time for a change and a new chapter, says 53-year-old coach

He spent almost eight years on the bench of the England national team, leading them to the European Championship finals twice, but now it’s time for a change. Gareth Southgate is finally retiring as head coach of the England national team and he officially confirmed it on Tuesday morning.

• Gareth Southgate was appointed to the England national team bench in September 2016
• The 33-year-old coach has taken England to the Euro finals twice
• But now it’s time for a change, Southgate is out as England head coach

He spent nearly eight years on the bench of the England national team, dedicating a chunk of his life to England football. Gareth Southgate has led his players to 102 matches, but the fifty-three-year-old coach will not be going into any more battles.

The England national team confirmed the end of Southgate as head coach on Tuesday morning. The Watford native came into the England A-team through the academy and junior team, and was announced as head coach by the local federation in September 2016.

In 2018, he led England to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 28 years, but in which his side succumbed to Croatia. Three years later, England reached the European Championship final for the first time in their history under coach Southgate.

However, they fell short to the Italians after a 1-1 draw in a penalty shoot-out. The following year (2022) was not a very successful one for the English national team, and it was then that criticism of the head coach intensified.

England were relegated from the elite division of the Nations League, having failed to win a single one of their six matches. They then reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, where the more successful team was France. And everyone already knows the story of this year’s European Championship.

Southgate on his demise

Southgate did lead his charges to the final, but the fans, not only England fans, grossly disliked the set playing style and the tactics associated with it. And as the players in the final acknowledged, the right team, Spain, won in the end.

Southgate was, in the opinion of many, too conservative, sometimes even arrogant, and fans also accused him of letting players in great form sit out.

“As a proud Englishman, it was an honour to coach England. It meant everything to me and I gave it my all. But it’s time for a change and a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my last game as England manager,” said Southgate, quoted by Sky Sports.

“I have had the privilege of managing a great group of players in 102 games. Every one of them was proud to wear the three lions on their jersey and in many ways they did honour to their country.

My special thanks go to the backroom staff who have given selfless support to the players and myself over the last eight years. Their hard work and commitment has inspired me every day and I am extremely grateful to them for that,” he added.

Source: England national football team, Sky Sports, X