Gareth Southgate resigns as England manager after Euro 2024 final defeat

Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager after his side lost a second Euros final in a row.

Writing a statement, shared by the official England account on X, 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.

“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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He added that England has the “best fans in the world and their support has meant the world to me” adding that he looks forward to “watching players go on to create more special memories and to connect and inspire the nation as we know they can”.

The England X account posted on social media saying: “After 102 games and almost eight years in charge, Gareth Southgate has announced he is to leave his role as manager of the #ThreeLions.”

The account’s biography was also updated to say: “Thank you, Gareth.”

Southgate’s team came from behind to level with Spain in the German capital on Sunday but was beaten by a late winner. He said after the match that the “best team of the tournament” had won.

The 53-year-old took charge of the Three Lions in autumn 2016. Two years later, he took them to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia, becoming the first England manager to do so since Bobby Robson in 1990.

In the round of 16, they beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties, after losing on spot-kicks in three previous World Cups.

Under his leadership, they also reached the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, played in Qatar, and the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley (held in 2021), losing to Italy on penalties.

Read more:
Southgate resignation statement in full

Southgate was non-committal about his future following the Euro 2024 defeat to Spain, saying he needed to have “conversations with important people behind the scenes”.

But he had a “drained demeanour at times in Germany”, Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris said.

He has been “hurt by the level of scrutiny and scorn”, Harris added.

‘Tough act to follow’

Reacting to Southgate’s resignation, former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher said: “It’s been a great ride for all involved over the last eight years.”

He said whoever steps up to take on the job has a “very tough act to follow”.

While former England striker Alan Smith said that Southgate “brought an enjoyment to the job, took the fear out of it to a certain extent”.

He said: “My reaction is one of sadness that he has gone, because he is a fine individual, we all know that, but going on to the World Cup was perhaps a step too far given the nature of the performances (at Euro 2024), rather than getting to the final, which was a great achievement.

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“The criticism he received, he clearly took that to heart and you can only do this job for so long – it wears you down and I think that has happened to Gareth.

“We can only thank him for what he has done for the national side.”

Singer and former One Direction star, Louis Tomlinson, also thanked the England manager, posting on X: “Thank you Gareth Southgate for the incredible memories you’ve given us all over the last eight years!”