Hit and Miss July 2024 Southgate

In this week’s Member Insights piece, David Alexander, the founder and MD of Calacus PR spotlights the hits and miss of July.

It has often been said that being the England men’s football manager is ‘the impossible job’ given the levels of expectation that come with the role.

The England men’s team have only won a solitary international tournament – the 1966 FIFA World Cup staged on home soil, with that legendary 4-2 win in the final at Wembley against arch rivals West Germany a rare triumph.

Since then, ‘It’s coming home!’ is a regular theme for England teams who reach the latter stages of tournaments, the groundswell of expectation giving way to despair and heartache when defeat ultimately occurs.

While the influence of the mainstream media may have waned in recent years from the lamentable era when managers such as Graham Taylor had his head super-imposed on a turnip, the pressure still weighs heavy on whoever takes the job.

Big name coaches such as Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello came and went without lifting trophies, the success of the Premier League adding undue hope that this time, things will be different.

After England’s disappointing exit at the hands of Iceland at EURO 2016 and the short-lived tenure of Sam Allardyce after a scandal, what England needed was a safe pair of hands, someone to give the pride back to the Three Lions.

Former international Gareth Southgate, a quiet and under-stated former international defender, was promoted to coach the senior men’s team after a spell in charge of the England under-21 team.

Seen at the time as an underwhelming appointment, especially after his young charges finished bottom of their group in the 2015 European Championship, Southgate inherited a national team who appeared to need dynamic re-invention.

Perhaps his greatest achievement has been to make the team a success without the swashbuckling pizazz that many demanded.

Seen as a light touch, particularly given some of his reactions in-game, Southgate did far more to reinvigorate the men’s team than he is often given credit for.

Football management is a results game, and Southgate took England to the FIFA World Cup semi-final, which they lost against Croatia; before two Euro finals, losing first to Italy on penalties and then to Spain earlier this summer.

It’s important to note that Southgate won nine tournament knockout games during his tenure, as many as England had ever won in major men’s tournaments before his reign. 

Some might argue that having worked with one of the more talented of England squads, he should have won a major trophy, but there was far more to his success than just winning games.

Southgate oversaw the England job during a turbulent period in England’s history, with the nation having to endure the drama of Brexit, five Prime Ministers, rising living costs and culture wars which stoked division among society.

That’s where Southgate’s strength lay, acting as a calming influence but also one who was not afraid to take a stand and do what he considered to be the right thing.

During his tenure, there was little to no scandal, such were the standards Southgate expected and secured from his charges.

But he was also brave enough to face down criticisms for the sake of social causes, encouraging his players to take the knee before games as a protest against racism, despite criticism from some of the fanbase, who had found themselves stoked up by populism.

It was fitting that the first game where this took place was an England match in Middlesbrough, where Southgate had played for many years, steadfast despite the mixed reaction from fans before the game.

He was not afraid, either, to address issues such as the rainbow captain’s armband when the decision was made not to wear it under threat of sanctions in Qatar, a conservative state where the FIFA 2022 World Cup took place.

Southgate explained: “I think we are supportive of the LGBT+ community. A large number of the team on the staff have either relatives or friends from that community, so it’s a relationship and a situation that we’re very conscious of.

“We have tried to be supportive, but I also accept that members of that community felt let down by the World Cup, but I think you have to live your life as you see it.

“I do know that we’re in a position where there might be a feeling we haven’t done enough in certain situations and if that’s the case we have to accept that criticism, but it’s not intentional that we would let down any of our fans, but these are all very complex situations that we’re trying to do our best at navigate.”

Qatar was a rare case of Southgate being caught in external political crossfire, but within the camp, he was a master of creating harmony.

Mindful of the factions that had hampered England before, during and after his player career, Southgate had also set about creating unity where there had previously been division, removing ego and selfishness for the selflessness which came naturally to him.

Players reported a good atmosphere during training camps and call-ups, the pressure of representing England being replaced by a calm environment in Southgate’s image, which allowed players to thrive. 

That ability to manage egos, to meld players who spent the majority of their lives competing against each other, is one of his greatest legacies. It helped that he brought through players from different clubs who had played together at youth level for England, the bonds of camaraderie already established.

For example, Phil Foden, Marc Guéhi, Conor Gallagher and Jadon Sancho were all part of the England side that lifted the under-17 World Cup in 2017, while Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer played in the winning England under-21 Euros team in 2023. Having come up through the England ranks together, these footballers had an existing relationship that made them likely to form better bonds in the senior team, despite spending most of the year with their different clubs.

When three black England players, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bakayo Saka, received racist abuse online after missing penalties which contributed to England’s defeat in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, something Southgate experienced himself in 1996, the coach was a reassuring figure looking to protect the youngsters from the bellowing external criticism.

He said: “For some of them to be abused is unforgivable really. It’s just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue.

“We have shown the power our country has when it does come together and has that energy and positivity together.”

The decency and kindness which Southgate exhibited so often has been such an contrast to the aggression and petulance many other coaches show on the sidelines.

It felt like a bond had been built between England players and fans that hadn’t existed for a generation.

Even when ‘fans’ were throwing plastic beer glasses onto the field after a dour 1-1 draw against Denmark, Southgate retained his dignity and humility and faced down his critics, proving that decency is something to invoke inspiration; a strength, not a weakness.

There were criticisms, based around his tactical approach, that he was often too cautious and lacked a clear style of play.

But instead of being seen as the kiss of death, England became adept at winning penalty shootouts, not to mention the progress he made at the business end of tournaments.

Regardless of his failure to lift that elusive trophy, Southgate made the England men’s team contenders again. Where fans often crowed with misplaced pride, he gave them something to be proud of – not only becoming a football force again, but as ambassadors for the English game.

Perhaps it’s fitting that Southgate’s last act as England manager was to publish a letter on the Football Association website confirming that the defeat in Berlin was his last in the role.

“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.

“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.”

As Rory Smith says in the New York Times: “No other England manager has spoken as much or as convincingly as Southgate. No other England manager has so successfully articulated a sense of what the England team is meant to be about, what it stands for and why it matters.” 

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