Gary Neville suspected Gareth Southgate would resign (Picture: YouTube)
Gary Neville has revealed the moment during Euro 2024 he knew Gareth Southgate would resign as England manager.
Southgate announced on Tuesday that he was stepping down as manager of the England men’s team after eight years in charge.
Less than 48 hours before the announcement, Southgate oversaw England’s second European Championship final defeat in a row, losing 2-1 to Spain in Berlin.
It was a similar outcome at Euro 2020 when England lost to Italy on penalties, failing to end their long and painful wait for a major trophy in men’s football.
Under Southgate, England also went deep in two World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022.
Despite the lack of silverware, Neville says England fans should be ‘grateful’ for the job Southgate did but insists it was the ‘right time to go’.
‘It is the right time to go,’ the ex-England and Manchester United defender wrote in The Overlap newsletter.
Southgate embraces England captain Harry Kane after Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)
‘When I heard him say during the tournament that it was an “unusual environment”, I thought his time was up.
‘For the first time, you have seen him and the players get involved in the weeds, questioning critics and giving the impression that media negativity was bothering them.
‘I’ve been at 12 major tournaments as a player, coach and pundit. I’ve been around England long enough to smell when things aren’t quite right.
‘I was hearing things in press conferences that I know would have created levels of division. I think he was maybe dealing with issues behind the scenes that will have contributed to his thinking.
Southgate came so close to winning a trophy (Picture: Getty)
‘He had built the whole ethos on everyone being the same, but it didn’t feel like that this time. More like he was having to whack a mole to keep some people in line.
‘He’s managed big characters in the past, but this squad has egos that will require a lot of energy from the manager in order to harness their best form. It won’t only be about managing players but an entourage.
‘But that’s for the next manager. Right now, we can only be grateful for what Southgate has done. And the legacy he has left.’
Rating Southgate’s time in charge, Neville added: ‘Southgate did so much more than steady the ship. He has turned it around and taken it into deeper waters.
‘There are some who continue to say he is the reason why we haven’t won a tournament. To that, I would say we would have never been in these finals without Southgate.’
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and ex-Chelsea manager Graham Potter are believed to be the frontrunners to replace Southgate, who took over England in 2016.
Southgate, 53, reached 100 games in charge of England during the recent Euros.
‘As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England,’ Southgate said as he resigned from the job.
‘It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all. But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter.’
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