Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager after his side lost a second Euros final in a row.
Writing a statement, shared by the official England account on X, Southgate said: “As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.
“But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager.
“I have had the privilege of leading a large group of players in 102 games. Every one of them has been proud to wear the three lions on their shirts, and they have been a credit to their country in so many ways.”
The England X account posted on social media saying: “After 102 games and almost eight years in charge, Gareth Southgate has announced he is to leave his role as manager of the #ThreeLions.”
The teams biography on the account was also updated to say: “Thank you, Gareth.”
Southgate’s team came from behind to level with Spain in the German capital but was beaten by a late winner. He said the “best team of the tournament” had won.
Southgate, 53, took charge of the Three Lions in autumn 2016. Two years later, he took them to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia, becoming the first England manager to do so since Bobby Robson in 1990.
In the round of 16, they beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties, after losing on spot-kicks in three previous World Cups.
Under his leadership, they also reached the quarter finals of the 2022 World Cup, played in Qatar, and the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley (held in 2021), losing to Italy on penalties.
Southgate was non-committal about his future following the defeat to Spain on Sunday evening, saying he needed to have “conversations with important people behind the scenes”.
But he had a “drained demeanour at times in Germany”, Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris said.
He has been “hurt by the level of scrutiny and scorn”, Harris added. (Sky News)
