Southgate leaves England after Euro heartbreak
Written by I Dig SportsGareth Southgate has left his role as England manager following the team's Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain, the English Football Association (FA) confirmed on Tuesday.
Under his stewardship, England reached the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the final of Euro 2020 (played in 2021), and the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before this latest run to the final of Euro 2024 in Germany.
"As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England," Southgate said in a statement on the Football Association's website. "It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.
"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.
"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."
England won eight knockout games during Southgate's tenure -- all other managers of the men's national team in history have won a combined nine.
Southgate took over the role on an interim basis in September 2016 after Sam Allardyce was sacked, before becoming the full-time manager later that year.
The FA will now begin its search for a new head coach who will lead the team in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
England's next game is against Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League on Sept. 7.