Prince William has led the tributes to Gareth Southgate, who resigned as England men’s manager on Tuesday after nearly eight years in charge.
Southgate guided England to their second consecutive European Championship final on Sunday, but the team fell short again, losing 2-1 to Spain in Berlin.
Despite facing criticism from fans and pundits during the Euros, many, including Prince William, have commended Southgate for his contributions since he took the helm in 2016.
“Gareth, I want to thank you — not as the President of the FA, but as an England fan,” the Prince of Wales said on X.
“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,” he added.
England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, one of Southgate’s key centre-back choices, said, “You made us all believe again – memories that will last forever. Thank you boss.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his gratitude for Southgate “bringing back hope” to England. “Gareth’s time as England manager will be remembered for bringing back the hope and belief the country had been crying out for for so long,” Starmer stated. “He has been a mentor to our brilliant young talent. And at every step of the way, he has shouldered the dreams of the country with dignity and honour. I join with everyone today in saying thank you to both Gareth and his team for all they have achieved and for laying the foundations for future success.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker, who had been critical of some of Southgate’s tactics during the tournament, also paid tribute on social media. “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 said. “He was close, very close to footballing [immortality] and he always did the job with humility, decency and dignity. Thank you, Gareth.”
Former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher remarked, “It’s been a great ride for all involved over the last eight years. Two finals, semifinal & a quarterfinal in Gareth Southgate’s four tournaments is a very tough act to follow!”
In his statement, Southgate thanked the fans for their support after announcing his decision to step down. “We have the best fans in the world, and their support has meant the world to me. I’m an England fan and I always will be. I look forward to watching and celebrating as the players go on to create more special memories and to connect and inspire the nation as we know they can. Thank you, England — for everything.”
