Frank Christian
After overseeing his 102nd match as England’s manager on July 14, 2024, Gareth Southgate made the pivotal decision to step down.
Just two days subsequent to England’s heart-wrenching 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, Southgate declared his exit from the Three Lions’ managerial position. While his contract was set to expire later in the year, it was apparent that the former Aston Villa player preferred a clean break before England’s upcoming international fixtures in September.
Southgate expressed that managing England had been “the honor of my life.” Over his eight-year tenure, he elevated the national team from the low point of exiting Euro 2016 against Iceland, re-establishing them as a formidable force globally.
Under the 53-year-old’s guidance, England reached two European Championship finals and secured a fourth-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Even though the lack of a major trophy win might define much of Southgate’s legacy, he brought the Three Lions exceptionally close to glory on multiple occasions, a feat unseen since their 1966 World Cup victory on home turf.
Delving into the reasons behind Southgate’s departure and the potential candidates for his successor.
Southgate’s Decision to Step Down
Southgate unveiled his resignation through an open letter released by the English FA on July 16, 2024. He cited that it was time for a change after spending eight years in the role.
Below is an excerpt from his letter, which was shared on the official FA website.
Gareth Southgate’s Record as England Manager
During his tenure from September 2016, following the Euro 2016 loss to Iceland and the fallout from Sam Allardyce’s departure due to a newspaper scandal, Southgate oversaw 102 matches as England’s manager.
Of those games, England secured victory in 61 and suffered defeat in just 17, resulting in an impressive win rate of 59.8%. Since the era of Sir Alf Ramsey, who guided England to World Cup triumph in 1966, only three permanent managers had a better winning record than Southgate.
Comparison of Gareth Southgate’s Record with Other England Managers
| Manager | Years in charge | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win ratio | Trophies and finals |
| Fabio Capello | 2008-2012 | 42 | 28 | 8 | 6 | 66.7% | — |
| Sir Alf Ramsey | 1963-1974 | 113 | 69 | 27 | 17 | 61.1% | 1966 World Cup (winners) |
| Glen Hoddle | 1996-1999 | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 60.7% | — |
| Ron Greenwood | 1977-1982 | 55 | 33 | 12 | 10 | 60.0% | — |
| Gareth Southgate | 2016-2024 | 102 | 61 | 24 | 17 | 59.8% | Euro 2020 (runners-up), Euro 2024 (runners-up) |
*Data includes only England managers with more than one game in charge
Southgate’s stint led England to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 for the first time since 1990 and the Euro 2020 final, where they fell short in a penalty shootout against Italy at Wembley Stadium.
Following a quarterfinal exit in the 2022 World Cup against eventual runners-up France, Southgate contemplated resigning. However, he opted to continue for the Euro 2024 qualification phase and tournament. The loss in the final on July 14 marked England as the first nation in Euros history to reach consecutive finals and lose both.
