- Planet Sport writer
- 9 August 2024
Lee Carsley named England interim boss after Gareth Southgate exit
Lee Carsley has been appointed England's interim manager for the start of the Nations League campaign in September.
As a player Southgate made over 500 appearances across just three teams - Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.
He won two League Cup titles and played in a UEFA Cup final. The defender also earned over 57 England caps, representing the Three Lions at three major international tournaments.
Southgate began his managerial career in 2006 with Middlesbrough, who he kept in the Premier League until the 2008/09 season. But he was sacked in October 2009 with the club in fourth place in the Championship.
In 2013, he was named as England Under-21 manager, and led them to victory in the Toulon Tournament in 2016 - a prestigious annual friendly tournament between the best international youth teams.
Impressively, Southgate led England U-21s to 27 victories in his 33 matches in charge of the Young Lions.
After a subsequent caretaker period managing England's senior team, Southgate was later given the job on a permanent basis and guided the Three Lions to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, third place in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 and were beaten finalists in the delayed Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
A couple of days after England lost in the Euro 2024 final, Southgate stepped down from his role of manager.
He had been in charge for eight years and managed England for 102 matches.
Playing for and managing Middlesbrough
After six years on the pitch with Aston Villa, Southgate joined Middlesbrough in the summer of 2001 under former England coach Steve McClaren.
A year later, he became the first Boro captain to lift a trophy in the club's 128-year history after winning the League Cup. The defender's last match as a player was in the 2006 UEFA Cup final against Sevilla, which the English side lost 4-0.
In June 2006, Southgate returned to Middlesbrough as a manager. The appointment caused controversy because he did not have the required coaching qualifications to manage in the Premier League at the time. However, he was eventually given permission to remain in the role.
Southgate guided Middlesbrough to 12th in his first season at the Riverside. In 2007/08, he came under pressure after a spell in the bottom three but managed to achieve another mid-table finish. Arsene Wenger, then-Arsenal manager, said Southgate was one of several English managers good enough to manage the English national side.
However, Middlesbrough were relegated in 2008/09 after a run of 14 league games without a win. Southgate was sacked early in the following season, despite sitting in fourth - just one point off the top of the table. Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson said it was "the hardest decision I've had to make in football."
Southgate and England
Southgate has experienced both sides of a career representing his country. He won 57 caps for the Three Lions during his playing days, in nine years' involvement at international level.
Unfortunately, though, an infamous missed penalty against Germany at EURO '96 is one of the lasting memories for England fans of Southgate's international career, something which the man himself admitted has taken time to get over.
He said he felt like he owed his country after managing England in their penalty shootout victory against Colombia at the World Cup 22 years later, sparking wild celebrations back home and in the England camp in Russia.
"People used to poke their heads out of vans and shout things at me in the street. I had a 20-year playing career but I was really only ever remembered for that one moment. That's what made [2018] even better because I felt like I had a debt to pay," he said.
Southgate retired as a player in 2006, then moved into coaching. In August 2013, Southgate was appointed manager of the England Under-21 side. He took charge for the European Under-21 Championship in 2015, but his team were knocked out in the group stage.
In September 2016, Southgate was named England caretaker manager after Sam Allardyce resigned after just one game in charge following a newspaper investigation.
Southgate's first match in charge of the senior side was a 2-0 win over Malta in a World Cup qualifier, before being given the job on a permanent basis.
Southgate led the Three Lions to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Despite losing to Belgium in the group stage, Southgate's men earned a place in the knockout rounds following wins over Tunisia and Panama. England beat Colombia in the round of 16 on penalties, before recording a 2-0 win over Sweden in the quarter-final.
Despite taking the lead through Kieran Trippier's free kick, Southgate's men were beaten by 2-1 Croatia in a tense semi-final. The Three Lions missed out on third place after another defeat to Belgium.
Southgate was rewarded with a new four-year deal and also received an OBE for services to football. "It's a very proud moment for myself and my family," he told thefa.com.
One year later, Southgate led England to the inaugural Nations League. The Three Lions finished above Spain and World Cup conquerors Croatia to top their group, earning a place in the last four.
Southgate's men were beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands in the semi-final, but overcame Switzerland on penalties to finish third.
England also qualified for the European Championships in 2021 after topping their group - winning seven games out of eight and finishing six points clear of second-placed Czech Republic.
However, Southgate came under pressure after failing to qualify for the 2021 Nations League after finishing behind Belgium and Denmark in the group stage.
In Euro 2020, Southgate's England toped their group without conceding a goal after 1-0 wins over Croatia and Czech Republic, and a 0-0 draw against Scotland.
In the round of 16, the Three Lions faced Germany, but goals courtesy of Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane gifted his side a 2-0 win.
A 4-0 drubbing of Ukraine in the quarter-finals in Rome ensured a second consecutive semi-final appearance for Southgate's side in international tournaments.
Despite going behind to Denmark in the semi-finals, a Simon Kjaer own goal meant the game entered extra time at 1-1.
A penalty was awarded to Southgate's side in extra time, and Harry Kane followed up on his initial saved effort to give England a 2-1 win and send the Three Lions through to their first final since 1966.
But Southgate suffered more penalty heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final, as England lost 4-3 on penalties to Italy after drawing 1-1 after extra-time.
Though England cruised through qualification for the 2022 World Cup, they struggled to perform at the 2022/23 Nations League.
They recorded their worst home defeat since 1928 in a 4-0 loss to Hungary in June 2022. After another defeat, this time to Italy again, England dropped into League B of the competition.
A run of six games without a win was quickly forgotten in the opening group match of the 2022 World Cup in November 2022, as Southgate led his team to a 6-2 win over Iran.
England then stumbled to a grim 0-0 draw with USA, before dispatching home nations rivals Wales 3-0 to top the group.
In the round of 16, Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal were brushed aside 3-0 with captain Harry Kane scoring his first goal of the tournament.
But their hopes were once again dashed at the quarter-final stage this time against reigning champions France.
France opened the scoring through Aurelien Tchouameni's early thunderbolt, only for Kane to level from the spot and equal Wayne Rooney's goalscoring record for the national team.
France's all-time scorer Olivier Giroud restored the World Cup holders' lead and it proved to be the winner after Kane blazed over a late penalty in a crushing 2-1 exit.
Southgate dealt with conflicting emotions after Qatar, where his young side’s promising performances came after a challenging build-up that led to fan fury with relegation from the Nations League top tier.
But, in the end, his family persuaded him to “give this one more go and try to get this trophy” – a focus that shaped everything he did building up to Euro 2024.
Euro 2024 failure and departure
England started qualification with an impressive win at holders Italy and progressed without defeat – an unbeaten run that continued when the Euro 2024 tournament began in Germany.
Things started off shakily, with an opening win against Serbia followed by boos greeting the end of the draws against Denmark and Slovenia despite England topping Group C.
Southgate even had beer cups thrown at him after the latter stalemate but he blocked out the noise, dug deep and, in the end, helped England lift a cup of their own.
Jude Bellingham’s jaw-dropping overhead kick saved the day and sparked an extra-time win against Slovakia in the last 16, before England went on to beat Switzerland on spot-kicks last weekend.
That resilience was evident again against the Netherlands in the semi-final as super sub Ollie Watkins was the hero in Dortmund, scoring a 90th-minute winner to spark wild celebrations.
Southgate’s 102nd – and last – match in charge at his fourth tournament at the helm ended in disappointment, with a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final at the Olympiastadion.
On July 16, 2024, Southgate stood down as England manager, saying it is time for a “new chapter” for the national team.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“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.”
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham paid tribute to Southgate’s achievements in leading England to successive European Championship finals, as well as to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in his first tournament at the helm.
Bullingham indicated the process to find Southgate’s successor “is now under way” and said the FA had an “interim solution in place if needed”, with the team’s next matches coming in the Nations League in September.
Southgate himself backed his players to go on and “win the trophy we all dream of” in the future.
“I am so proud of them, and I hope we get behind the players and the team at St George’s Park and the FA who strive every day to improve English football and understand the power football has to drive positive change,” he said.
“My special thanks go to the backroom staff who have provided the players and me with unstinting support over the last eight years. Their hard work and commitment inspired me every day and I am so grateful to them – the brilliant ‘team behind the team’.
“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.”
Bullingham’s statement highlighted just how far England had come on the pitch under Southgate.
“In the 25 tournaments post 1966 before Gareth took charge, we had won seven knockout games. In his four tournaments we have won nine,” Bullingham said.
“So, in his eight years, he has won more games that really matter than in the previous 50 years.
“And of course, we have had strong tournament performances throughout their tenure. We came so close to winning the Euros in London and securing the first trophy for our men’s team for over 50 years – and came so close again in Berlin on Sunday.
“Before Gareth, our longest time ranked in the top five in the world was seven months. In his tenure we have been ranked there for six years.”
Bullingham also highlighted Southgate’s wider impact on the team, beyond the on-field achievements.
“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,” he said.
“Gareth has made the impossible job possible and laid strong foundations for future success. He is held in the highest regard by the players, the backroom team, by everyone at the FA and across the world of football.
“We are very proud of everything Gareth and (his assistant) Steve (Holland) achieved for England, and will be forever grateful to them.”
Anything is Possible
In 2020, Southgate released Anything is Possible, a book that explores his journey from being released by Southampton at 13 to managing his country at a World Cup. The book features a foreword from Prince Charles and aims to inspire young people to follow their dreams.
All profits are being donated to the Prince's Trust, a charity Southgate has worked with since 2005. Throughout the book, Southgate encourages the reader to step out of their comfort zone like he did when he took the England job, despite his fears of getting sacked again.
He also offers life lessons throughout for young people, such as the importance of focussing on yourself and trying not to compare yourself to others, be brave enough to try new things and the need for kindness in the world.
Net worth
Southgate reportedly earned an annual salary in the region of £3million while at the helm of England.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he agreed to take a 30% pay cut to help protect the FA - which was set to lose more than £150 million due to cancelled matches and concerts at Wembley.
