Gareth Southgate LIVE: Reaction as FA prepared to wait for Pep Guardiola as England boss’ replacement
The Three Lions boss has opted to step aside and a new manager is now set to take over ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with Eddie Howe the early favourite to succeed him
Gareth Southgate has decided to step down as England manager following defeat to Spain in a tightly contested Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
He announced his decision to quit in a statement issued by the Football Association on Tuesday morning. “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,” he said. “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.”
Speculation has begun as to who will succeed Southgate, with Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola seen as the outstanding candidate. Guardiola is still contracted to the Premier League club but there is a feeling that he could become available next summer with the FA prepared to wait and see if he would be open to the role.
The likes of Englishmen Graham Potter and Eddie Howe have also been linked with the role, while Mauricio Pochettino is also considered to understand the culture around the national team by the FA, which is a trait they will target when appointing a replacement.
Follow all the latest reaction after Southgate’s decision and the FA’s pursuit of a new manager below:
Gareth Southgate steps down as England manager after Euro 2024 final defeat
Gareth Southgate has stepped down as England manager after Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Southgate’s tenure comes to an end after nearly eight years in charge, guiding England to four major tournaments.
The 53-year-old oversaw 102 matches, winning 61 and losing just 17 during his time in charge, becoming the first manager to lead England’s men to two major tournament finals.
But defeats to Italy in 2021 and Luis de la Fuente’s superb Spanish side in Berlin on Sunday left Southgate without a trophy to show for a transformative stint.
FA willing to wait for Pep Guardiola and could appoint interim England manager to replace Gareth Southgate
The Football Association would consider the idea of appointing an interim in order to try and coax Pep Guardiola as England manager if he does decide to leave Manchester City in 2025. While it is not the federation’s first choice to wait, the Catalan represents such an outstanding candidate that it would at least bring a re-assessment if there was any chance of getting him.
Gareth Southgate’s resignation was announced on Tuesday morning, just two days after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, putting into action a long-prepared FA plan for his departure. The priority now is for a manager who understands the culture of the national team, which Guardiola fits into perfectly having spent eight years in England and supplied so many players. He has naturally been high on any ideal list, but the feeling was previously that it would be near impossible to get him out of City for such a job.
FA want Guardiola and could appoint interim England manager to replace Southgate
Guardiola remains under contract at Manchester City but there is a feeling he could be persuaded to take on the England job
Sarina Wiegman ‘sad’ to see Gareth Southgate leave England role
England women’s boss Sarina Wiegman admitted that she will be sad when Gareth Southgate departs his role as manager of the men’s team and claimed that the 53-year-old’s time with the national team was ’incredible’.
On Tuesday night, the Lionesses drew 0-0 away against Sweden to secure qualification for Euro 2025 where they will defend the title they won in 2022 under Dutchwoman Wiegman.
Earlier in the day Southgate announced his resignation as England men’s manager leading to ITV asking Wiegman if she would be as to see him leave.
Sarina Wiegman ‘sad’ to see Gareth Southgate leave England role
The Lionesses boss also believes England should be proud of Southgate’s achievements
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola tipped to replace Gareth Southgate as England manager
Jurgen Klopp has been tipped by Gary Lineker to succeed Gareth Southgate with the England manager departing after the crushing Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
The former Liverpool manager is currently out of work after walking away from Anfield to take a break from management.
The German was approached by the United States ahead of a World Cup on home soil in 2026, with Gregg Berhalter dismissed after a group stage exit from the Copa America, but quickly rebuffed the opportunity for talks.
Klopp tipped by Lineker to replace Southgate as England manager
The German is currently out of work after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season, with Southgate stepping down after defeat in the Euro 2024 final to Spain
England manager search begins as Gareth Southgate ends ‘extraordinary’ reign
The search for an England manager to match or even beat the “extraordinary” achievements of Gareth Southgate is under way, with the Football Association not ruling out handing the job to a foreign coach.
Southgate called time on his near eight-year reign on Tuesday morning, saying it had been “the honour of his life” to play for and manage England but felt it was now “time for change and for a new chapter” after Sunday’s Euro 2024 final defeat.
England manager search begins as Gareth Southgate ends ‘extraordinary’ reign
Southgate said it had been “the honour of his life” to play for and manage England.
Jude Bellingham and England players react to Gareth Southgate’s England resignation
England players have paid tribute to Gareth Southgate after the manager stepped down from his role after eight years in charge.
Southgate resigned after England were beaten 2-1 by Spain in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin, a second heartbreaking final loss at the European Championship following defeat by Italy at Wembley three years ago.
The road to Berlin was not easy as England struggled to find the net and topped the group after scoring only two goals. Furious supporters hurled beer cups and insults at Southgate and, as his team selection was also questioned, he implored the fans to get behind the squad.
Jude Bellingham and England players react to Gareth Southgate’s England resignation
Southgate steps down after eight years in charge of England saying the team needs ‘a new chapter’
Gareth Southgate’s England tenure by numbers
In all, Gareth Southgate took charge of 102 matches as England manager, winning 61, drawing 24 and losing 17. At major tournaments (the World Cup and Euros), Southgate‘s side won 14, drawn seven and lost five of 26 games for a 53.8 per cent win rate, scoring 44 goals and conceding 20.
England averaged 2.1 goals per game during his eight-year stint, while Southgate utilised 99 players. 66 debuts were handed out, with Harry Kane earning 81 caps as the manager’s most-used player.
Who will be the next England manager? Latest odds to replace Gareth Southgate
Graham Potter, Eddie Howe and Jurgen Klopp are among those at the top of the bookmakers’ list of potential Gareth Southgate replacements:
Who will be the next England manager? Latest odds to replace Gareth Southgate
A number of top managers are in the frame according to the bookmakers
Gareth Southgate’s England legacy is bigger than any trophy
A gentleman to his core, Gareth Southgate has always been willing to stop and speak, which was why it was so striking that he walked right out of Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Sunday without wishing to add any more to his official post-final press conference. He didn’t want to have to talk publicly about a decision he had already made. Southgate didn’t even need the few days he’d requested. He knew. The players, disappointed but understanding, also knew.
Gareth Southgate’s England legacy is bigger than any trophy
The Three Lions lost a second successive final in Berlin but, as Miguel Delaney writes, Gareth Southgate leaves something greater than purely results on the pitch
Memorable matches of Gareth Southgate’s eight-year England tenure
Gareth Southgate has stepped down as England manager, two days after his team suffered European Championship heartbreak once again with a second straight defeat in the final.
Spain were 2-1 winners in the Euro 2024 showpiece in Berlin, three years on from Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph on penalties at Wembley.
Here, the PA news agency picks out six memorable matches from Southgate’s eight-year reign.
Memorable matches of Gareth Southgate’s eight-year England tenure
The former defender led England to the final of the last two European Championships.
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