Football: double Euro finalist, Gareth Southgate leaves his post as England coach

Gareth Southgate était en poste depuis 2016 à la tête des Three Lions. MAXPPP – Gareth Fuller

Le sélectionneur de l’équipe d’Angleterre de football, Gareth Southgate, a annoncé mardi qu’il mettait fin à ses fonctions deux jours après la défaite face à l’Espagne en finale de l’Euro (2-1).

"The time has come to change and open a new chapter. Sunday's final in Berlin against Spain was my last match as England coach, he wrote in a message sent by the English federation.

Southgate, who had been in charge for eight years, managed the England team 102 times. The defeat of the Three Lions on Sunday in Berlin was one failure too many for him, who had already experienced disillusionment during Euro-2021, losing in the final at Wembley against the ;Italy on penalties.

At the 2018 World Cup, the adventure ended in the semi-final against Croatia (2-1 after extra time). Four years later in Qatar, France stopped England in the quarter (2-1). "The group we took to Germany is full of exciting young talents, wrote Southgate in his farewell message, and they can win the trophy we all dream of."

England football is desperate to win a second title after the World Cup won at home in 1966, the only trophy in the English Federation's showcase.

"In the 25 (international) competitions after 1966 and before Gareth took office, we had won seven knockout matches. In the four competitions of his tenure, we won nine.

In fact, in eight years, he has won more matches that really count than in the previous fifty years", underlines the general director of the Federation, Mark Bullingham, in a press release. "Gareth made the mission impossible possible and laid the foundations for future success", he continues.

"He is held in the highest regard by the players, by the management and by everyone at the FA and in the world of football ."

His successor soon to be known

His successor should be named "as soon as possible", says Bullingham as Nations League begins in September .

Among the names tipped to take over, those of Newcastle coach Eddie Howe as well as two former Chelsea managers, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino are already circulating.

Southgate was appointed in 2016, when the English selection was at its worst, eliminated by Iceland in the round of 16 of the Euro.

"As a proud Englishman, playing for England and then coaching England was the honor of my life", writes the 53-year-old former international. "It meant everything to me, and I gave everything for it."