‘It’s a very special moment,’ Tuchel says of England’s World Cup qualification
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During his time with England, Southgate led England to the 2021 and 2024 UEFA European Championship finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
“I’ve had one of the greatest jobs in football, but there was also a higher purpose because it was my country,” Southgate told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“It would be very difficult to replicate this. Having played football for 37 years, it’s fun to find other areas where I think I might be able to make a difference.”
Ahead of the publication of his new book on leadership, Southgate believes his experience in England, when the national team grew in popularity with the nation, can be applied more widely.
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Sir Gareth Southgate applauds fans after his final game as England manager, the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
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Mr Southgate said: “When we first started, there was a huge disconnect with the public.”
“People saw us as players with high egos, but we were able to change that. I saw the team’s ability to bring people together from all communities.”
“There is so much negative press in our country right now, and we must give hope and mentorship to our young people.
“We have great talent, but we need to find them the right role models and the right friendship groups, because those decisions will have a huge impact on the rest of their lives.”
After decades of underachievement for England, Southgate turned things around during eight years of hard work.
Half a century after winning the 1966 World Cup, England have only reached the semi-finals of the tournament twice, at the 1990 World Cup on home soil and at Euro 1996.
Under Southgate, England have reached at least the last four in three of the four competitions he has been in charge of. They lost to Croatia 2-1 in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
They then played notable matches at consecutive European Championships, losing on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley and losing 2-1 to Spain in Berlin in the Euro 2024 final.
Southgate has managerial experience at club level, having been manager at Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2009.
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