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4 months ago
19 Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has been offering his reaction to the news that Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager.
Southgate, 53, made the decision two days after England suffered defeat against Spain in the 2024 European Championship final. It was their second consecutive Euros final defeat, having been beaten on penalties by Italy at Wembley three years ago.
As England manager, he took charge of 102 games in eight years, and his contract was set to expire later this year.
In a statement released this afternoon, 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.”
Neville wasn’t surprised by the news but believes Southgate will be a tough act to follow. The former England right-back told Sky Sports: “I am not surprised. I thought Gareth would call it a day – I think there were hints during the tournament that it might be the time.
“He has had an amazing time for eight years, surpassed the expectation of every England fan and deserved to call time on his own terms.
“He has achieved incredible things on the pitch and also off the pitch. He has managed the politics, the club vs county rivalry. He has removed those barriers but it has taken its toll.
“He has learnt a lot from the past and I know those learnings will be left behind. He won’t take the crown jewels, he is not that sort of person.
“He will be a tough act to follow.”
Neville added his belief that the next manager should be English.
“[The next manager] will have to win a trophy to surpass what Gareth has achieved.
“Over the years we have had every type of manager – the fashionable, the international manager, best English managers, people who have come through the ranks with youth teams.
“There is no science in terms of what works and there are obvious contenders. Graham Potter and Eddie Howe will get mentioned and I think it will definitely be an English manager.
“Moving to St George’s Park was to promote and develop English coaches. To take that away from an English manager and give to an international manager would be wrong.”
Meanwhile, it is understood that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and Graham Potter are “very high” on the FA’s shortlist of candidates to succeed Southgate.
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