Former England manager Gareth Southgate has revealed how he would react if Thomas Tuchel were to win the World Cup with the Three Lions, reports BritPanorama.
The ex-Premier League player, who managed England for around eight years, stated he would “take off his hat” to Tuchel if the German coach achieves the same success as the legendary 1966 squad.
He emphasised the effort required to reach such a milestone, saying, “He’d have had to do an incredible amount of hard work to do that.”
Southgate further noted his longstanding loyalty to the national team, mentioning his extensive past with England as both a player and a coach. “Since I was this big, I had my England scarf on watching us play. So that’s never going to change!” he remarked.
Southgate, 55, resigned as manager on July 16 last year, just two days after his side lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain. During his eight-year tenure, he led England to two European finals and a World Cup semi-final.
He revealed that he stepped down because he felt he had become “divisive” and was “polarising the fan base.” Reflecting on his time, Southgate said, “From a personal perspective, there was less joy in the wins… Why am I doing this?” His tenure began after Sam Allardyce was dismissed in 2016, following a scandal.
Southgate has remained low-profile since leaving his role, choosing to keep his reflections and memories to himself. However, he addressed the situation of Ben White, who left the 2022 World Cup in Qatar amid reports of a disagreement with Assistant Coach Steve Holland. When asked about White, Southgate maintained a sensitive stance, stating, “Players have lives outside of football.” He indicated that discussing White’s situation further would not be appropriate.
As England transitions into a new era under Tuchel, the question of unity and fan support looms large. Southgate’s reflection on his divisive period raises profound considerations about leadership and team dynamics, reminding us how the fortunes of football entwine with the sentiment of the nation.
