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The highs and lows of Gareth Southgate: From penalty heartache and THAT pizza advert to successful hearts because the ‘waistcoat surprise’ and an Atomic Kitten reboot… how English soccer’s unlikeliest hero can ‘stroll away along with his head held excessive’

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Gareth Southgate‘s profession as England supervisor was popularly seen as a quest for redemption, with the prospect of ‘bringing it house’ supplied as the final word atonement to his private nadir – that notorious penalty miss.

Additional heartache on Sunday might have robbed Southgate of a fairytale ending, however after delivering the nation so many unforgettable moments he can nonetheless stroll away – within the phrases of 1 supporter – ‘along with his head held excessive’. 

The 53-year-old introduced his departure in the present day by calling his eight years as England boss ‘the honour of my life’, earlier than insisting that it was ‘time for change, and for a brand new chapter’. 

As a participant, Southgate gained 57 senior caps however will in the end be most remembered for his semi-final penalty miss towards Germany at Euro 1996. Shortly after he starred in an advert for Pizza Hut, the place he sat within the restaurant with a brown paper bag on his head.

Gareth Southgate after lacking a penalty throughout England’s Euro 96 shootout towards Germany 

Shortly after he starred in an advert for Pizza Hut, where he sat in the restaurant with a brown paper bag on his head

Shortly after he starred in an advert for Pizza Hut, the place he sat within the restaurant with a brown paper bag on his head

Southgate, resplendent in his waistcoat, led England on an unforgettable run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, reconnecting the national team with the country

Southgate, resplendent in his waistcoat, led England on an unforgettable run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, reconnecting the nationwide workforce with the nation 

The scars from his essential spot-kick miss deeply impacted the introverted child from Crawley.

For all he achieved within the 20 years that adopted, the ache of that second meant Southgate was reluctant to place himself within the nationwide firing line once more.

It’s for that cause that the bookmakers’ favorite to succeed Roy Hodgson after the humiliating Euro 2016 last-16 exit to Iceland dominated himself out of the operating for a job ultimately taken by Sam Allardyce.

It was a call that Southgate swiftly regretted however, resulting from a outstanding flip of occasions, was shortly rectifiable.

‘Huge Sam’ made an surprising exit from the publish after 67 days and only one match on the helm, resulting in the England Beneath-21s boss to be parachuted in as non permanent supervisor.

Southgate grasped the nettle and a promising four-game interim stint earned a everlasting deal – a whirlwind few months that helped redefine English soccer.

The previous defender, resplendent in his waistcoat, led England on an unforgettable run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, reconnecting the nationwide workforce with the nation. 

It was round this time that followers started singing their very own take of Atomic Kitten’s Entire Once more with the phrases switched to ‘Southgate you are the one’. 

Again-to-back Euros finals adopted both aspect of a irritating 2022 World Cup quarter-final exit to eventual runners-up France as England loved unparalleled consistency on the most important phases.

Southgate’s standing noticed him extra ready to deal with wider points past the pitch, and in 2021 in the course of the Covid pandemic he launched his now well-known ‘Expensive England’ letter, which sought to outline his personal imaginative and prescient for Englishness

Disappointment, again: Southgate walks past the trophy during the podium ceremony after England lost to Spain on Sunday

Disappointment, once more: Southgate walks previous the trophy in the course of the podium ceremony after England misplaced to Spain on Sunday 

The England boss at the Russia World Cup, where England enjoyed a strong run

The England boss on the Russia World Cup, the place England loved a robust run 

An England supporter holding a cardboard cutout of Southgate in his iconic waistcoat at a fan park in Manchester in 2021

An England supporter holding a cardboard cutout of Southgate in his iconic waistcoat at a fan park in Manchester in 2021 

This is able to go on to encourage a preferred play by the identical identify, which offered the supervisor as a visionary chief looking for to rebuild the nationwide aspect’s confidence – and relationship with its followers – following a long time of underachievement. 

Southgate was unafraid to talk out on different social points, and took a robust stance in favour of ‘taking the knee’ towards racial discrimination after the gesture was booed by England followers in Euro 2020 warm-up friendlies on the Riverside Stadium. 

‘It is what we stand for as a workforce and have completed for a protracted time period,’ he mentioned after it was confirmed England would proceed to take the knee on the 2022 World Cup.

Southgate’s time on the high noticed its first scandal in 2020, when he was pressured to ship house Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood following a ‘very critical’ violation of strict coronavirus protocols.

The pair had made their senior debuts throughout a Nations League sport towards Iceland however Southgate took no prisoners.

‘It was delivered to my consideration that two boys have damaged Covid pointers by way of our safe bubble so we needed to resolve in a short time that they could not have any interplay with the workforce,’ he mentioned.

One other low was the racial abuse towards Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho after England’s Euro 2020 loss towards Italy. 

Southgate's status saw him more prepared to tackle wider issues beyond the pitch, and in 2021 during the Covid pandemic he released his now famous 'Dear England' letter, which sought to define his own vision for Englishness. He was played by Joseph Fiennes (pictured)

Southgate’s standing noticed him extra ready to deal with wider points past the pitch, and in 2021 in the course of the Covid pandemic he launched his now well-known ‘Expensive England’ letter, which sought to outline his personal imaginative and prescient for Englishness. He was performed by Joseph Fiennes (pictured)  

England reached a Euros final at Wembley in 2021, only to suffer heartbreak after losing the penalty shootout

England reached a Euros last at Wembley in 2021, solely to endure heartbreak after shedding the penalty shootout 

The trio all missed within the shoot-out and have been focused by trolls on social media, fracturing a relationship that had been enhancing yr on yr beneath Southgate.

‘For a few of them to be abused is unforgivable,’ Southgate mentioned on the time. ‘A few of it has come from overseas, we’ve been informed this, however a few of it’s from this nation.

‘We have now been a beacon of sunshine to convey folks collectively and the nationwide workforce stands for everyone. We felt the vitality and positivity from the followers and I am extremely happy with that.’

A typical criticism of Southgate’s sides is that they’re cagey and overly defensive, claims that solely grew throughout England’s sluggish begin to Euro 2024.

After a disappointing goalless draw to Slovenia, the supervisor was pelted with paper beer cups by a piece of followers. 

Three years on from the agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy at Wembley, a second straight European Championship last led to heartbreak as swashbuckling Spain triumphed 2-1 on Sunday.

Southgate after England's heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Spain on Sunday

Southgate after England’s heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Spain on Sunday  

Southgate may not have secured his place in immortality, but he leaves having restored the national team's credibility and turned them into regular tournament contenders

Southgate might not have secured his place in immortality, however he leaves having restored the nationwide workforce’s credibility and turned them into common match contenders 

Southgate might not have secured his place in immortality, however he leaves having restored the nationwide workforce’s credibility and turned them into common match contenders.

He fostered a powerful togetherness and workforce spirit, thanks in no small half to his willingness to again and stand alongside his gamers on societal points corresponding to racism.

England’s gamers liked him and the Soccer Affiliation needed him to increase his eight-year reign, however the likeable, eloquent coach has determined to step away.

He led by instance off the sphere and to inside touching distance of glory on it, however another person should convey soccer house.