England Manager Gareth Southgate Resigns, Saying ‘It’s Time for Change’

Gareth Southgate applauds the fans after England had lost 2-1 to Spain during the UEFA EURO 2024 final in Berlin, Germany final on July 14, 2024. Stu Forster/Getty Images

Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager only 48 hours after he led his country to defeat against Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 final in Berlin.

Mr. Southgate, 53, has managed England since 2016 and his contract was due to expire later this year.

In a statement posted on the team’s website, Mr. 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,” he added.

Mr. Southgate was in charge for 102 games and was the most successful England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, who won the World Cup in 1966.

He led the team to the final of Euro 2020, which was delayed by a year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Losing on Penalties Became a Theme

England, who were the hosts, led after two minutes but Italy equalised in the second half and Mr. Southgate’s team ended up losing on penalties.

A former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Middlesbrough defender, he won 57 caps for England between 1995 and 2004, but was most famous for missing a penalty in the European championship defeat by Germany in 1996.

He went on to make a famous advert for Pizza Hut with Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce, who had missed crucial penalties for England in the 1990 World Cup.

After retiring from playing, Mr. Southgate managed Middlesbrough for three years but was sacked in 2009 after they were relegated from the Premier League.

But in 2013 he was given the chance of managing England’s under-21 team and in September 2016—when Sam Allardyce was sacked after a newspaper sting—he took over temporary charge of the senior team.

Mr. Southgate led England to the semi finals of the World Cup in Russia in 2018, where they lost to Croatia in extra time.

From left, Spain's Lamine Yamal, Spain's Alvaro Morata, and England's Jude Bellingham fight for the ball during the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, on July 14, 2024. Matthias Schrader/AP Photo

Then, after near-success at Euro 2020, he led the Three Lions to the semi final of the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022, but again they fell at the quarter final stage, losing 2–1 to France.

Mr. Southgate was heavily criticised by fans and sports journalists in the early stages of Euro 2024 as the team played poorly, but he was praised for his decision to substitute Harry Kane in the semi final against the Netherlands and replace him with Ollie Watkins, who scored the winner in the 90th minute.

Among those who are being tipped as his replacement are Jurgen Klopp, who stepped down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, and former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter.

PA Media contributed to this report.