Gary Lineker has declared that Gareth Southgate brought ‘pride, respect and togetherness to England’ after it was confirmed the Three Lions boss stepped down as manager of England.
The news was confirmed on Tuesday, two days after Southgate and his side came up short in their bid to win Euro 2024 and their first major title in 58 years.
‘It’s time for change, and for a new chapter,’ Southgate wrote in an emotional statement shared by England, as he thanked the likes of Steve Holland, his players and England fans for their support.
The resignation came on the back of Southgate saying before the tournament that it was unlikely he would be in charge if England failed to win the competition and the revelation that the FA would try and convince him to stay on.
Lineker, who had suggested Southgate was no longer the man for the job after the Euro 2024 final defeat, praised the outgoing Three Lions boss on social media.
The football world has paid tribute to Gareth Southgate (pictured) after he stepped down as England manager
The Three Lions boss confirmed he had left his role after the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain
Gary Lineker wrote that Southgate had brought ‘pride, respect and togetherness’ to England
‘Wishing Gareth Southgate all the very best in the future. He brought pride, respect and a togetherness to England that we hadn’t seen for a long time,’ Lineker wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
‘He was close, very close to footballing immortality and he always did the job with humility, decency and dignity. Thank you, Gareth.’
The 63-year-old, speaking on his Rest is Football podcast on Monday, had claimed England needed a manager with a ‘modern, attacking style of football’.
Lineker said Southgate had been the right manager at the start of his reign, before suggesting he is ‘probably not suited’ to the emergence of forward thinking players who play a high-pressing game.
Tributes have come from other leading voices, with former England defender and coach Neville taking to social media to thank the now-former England boss.
‘Thank you Gareth you did a great job,’ Neville wrote on X, formerly Twitter, following the revelation of the news.
Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, who had been a stark defender of Southgate in the fallout from the final, posted: ‘It’s been a great ride for all involved over the last eight years. Two finals, semi final & a quarter final in Gareth Southgate’s four tournaments is a very tough act to follow!’
Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton added: ‘Gareth Southgate is a class act and can leave his position as England manager with his head held high and with great pride with what he has achieved.’
Gary Lineker had called for England to move on from Southgate following the loss to Spain
Gary Neville, who had been an England assistant prior to Southgate’s arrival, wrote that he did ‘a great job’
Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, posted that the 53-year-old will be ‘a very tough act to follow’
Prince William, meanwhile, is the president of the Football Association, and was seen in Germany cheering on the England side.
‘Gareth, I want to thank you – not as the President of the FA, but as an England fan,’ he wrote in response to the news. ‘Thank you for creating a team that stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest in 2024.
‘Thank you for showing humility, compassion, and true leadership under the most intense pressure and scrutiny. And thank you for being an all-round class act. You should be incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved. W.
The FA, meanwhile, have confirmed the process is underway to appoint Southgate’s successor as England manager, with an ‘interim solution’ in place in case a boss is not appointed for the September internationals.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham paid tribute to Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland in a statement and confirmed the hunt for a new manager is underway.
‘Over the last eight years they have transformed the England men’s team, delivering unforgettable memories for everyone who loves the Three Lions,’ Bullingham said at the start of a long statement.
‘We look back at Gareth’s tenure with huge pride – his contribution to the English game, including a significant role in player development, and in culture transformation has been unique. However, it is his record of winning tournament games which is most extraordinary.’
Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton described Southgate as ‘a class act’ who ‘can leave his position with his head held high’
Prince William was keen to thank Southgate as and England fan rather than the president of the Football Association
England’s next match is against the Republic of Ireland on September 7 as the Nations League campaign begins.
The Three Lions will then face Finland three days later, before a month break until their next international matches.