Gareth Southgate’s Inspirational Reign As England Football Team’s Manager Comes To An End

Gareth Southgate’s declaration to step down as England Football Team’s manager was quite shocking and has met with emotional reactions all over the internet. This decision came in response to England’s defeat in the 2024 Euros by Spain. Most people praised him for his contributions to making the English team what it is today. In this long list of names, one name that stands out is Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters. He commended Southgate’s commitment to English football.

Southgate’s Association With The English Team

Gareth Southgate started his journey as England manager in November 2016. He took over the role after Sam Allardyce’s departure. When he took over the managerial position, the England National team was in a transitional phase. They were going through a myriad of disappointments in recent tournaments and were in the middle of team rebuilding. Also, they were opting to change their style of play as their current strategies weren’t fruitful enough. Southgate was tasked with rejuvenating the team and instilling a new direction, focusing on young talent and a more possession-oriented approach. Thus, making the team more cohesive and disciplined under his leadership.

Southgate’s Major Contributions

Under Southgate, England made it to the final in two of their four big tournaments; in their previous 23 World Cup/EURO appearances, they had only done it once. After decades of futility, the former England and Aston Villa defender is credited with turning the team's culture around and leading them to the 2018 World Cup semifinals and the 2020 Euro final.

After 22 years, he breaks the English football team's penalty curse, enabling England to win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time. More than 20 years after Southgate's missed penalty kick in Euro 96, they defeated Colombia in 2018 on penalty kicks.

Obviously, what makes it poetic is how it relates to that moment in (Euro) 1996 when he felt the pressure and expectations of that history and the weight of that history on the moment that he missed that penalty. Twenty-two years after the incident, it is he who breaks the English football team's penalty curse, enabling them to win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time.