Gareth Southgate steps down as England manager

His resignation comes two days after England lost to Spain in Euro 2024 final


AFP July 16, 2024
Gareth Southgate PHOTO: Goal.com

Gareth Southgate said he is resigning as England manager on Tuesday two days after they lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

"It's time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday's final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager," he said in statement.

Spain substitute Mikel Oyarzabal slid in for an 86th-minute winner to earn his team a 2-1 Euro 2024 final victory over England on Sunday and a record fourth European crown.

Oyarzabal finished off a break for the winning goal as Spain were crowned champions, having won all seven games they played in the tournament

England boss Gareth Southgate reacted by sending on Ollie Watkins, the goalscoring substitute hero of the semi-final, for an ineffective Harry Kane after an hour, with Cole Palmer, their most creative player for the last month, joining him 10 minutes later.

It paid off almost immediately when Jude Bellingham laid the ball back into Palmer's path and the substitute curled home a precise low 20-metre shot in the 73rd minute.

The massed ranks of England fans, who vastly outnumbered their rivals, exploded and the whole feel of the night changed.

Spain, however, weathered the storm and, Oyarzabal who came on in the 68th minute, struck.

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