London, Jul 16 (EFE).- England manager Gareth Southgate resigned Tuesday, two days after the team’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
It was England’s second consecutive defeat in the European Championship final.
«As a proud Englishman, it has been the honor of my life to play for England and to manage England,» Southgate, 53, said in a statement.
Southgate, who also represented England as a player, was in charge of the national team for 102 games over eight years. His contract was due to expire in December this year.
«It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.
«But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter.»
While he has often been criticized for the team’s style of play, Southgate has made history for his longevity at the helm of one of the most complicated coaching jobs in world soccer, amid the intense scrutiny of the English press and support and the national obsession with winning a first major international trophy since 1966.
While he was unable to deliver a trophy, he was able to bring calm to a position always in the eye of the storm, as well as making England a regular protagonist of the later rounds of major competitions.
After arriving in 2016 as coach, Southgate led the Three Lions to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they lost to Croatia in extra time.
Three years later, the English reached the Wembley final at the Euros, but lost on penalties to Italy.
After reaching the quarterfinals at the World Cup in Qatar – in which they lost to France – the English reached the final of the European Championship again last Sunday, but failed to overcome Spain in a 2-1 defeat. EFE
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