Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager came to an end this summer following a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. The Three Lions were pre-tournament favourites looking at football bet UK odds, but the Spaniards showed their quality on the night, lifting the trophy with a stylish performance in Germany.
For Southgate, it was a gut-wrenching end to his eight-year spell in charge of the national team, a period marked by near misses and an attempt to end a 58-year wait for a major international trophy.
Despite Cole Palmer’s well-taken equaliser that briefly reignited England’s hopes, it was Mikel Oyarzabal’s late goal that sealed Spain’s triumph, leaving Southgate and the nation to reflect on another missed opportunity with a side that should have been more experienced.
While some criticised Southgate’s cautious style of play, there’s no denying the significant strides made under his leadership.
The 54-year-old’s achievements go beyond the major finals that narrowly eluded him. He led England to a World Cup semi-final in 2018, a Euro 2020 final, and a Nations League third-place finish in 2019.
He also inspired a reconnection between the team and the fans, reigniting a sense of national pride in the Three Lions, and repaired relationships across the big Premier League teams, improving the culture for players. For that, Southgate should rightly earn his plaudits.
But how does he compare to the very best England managers of all time? Only four England managers—Fabio Capello, Sir Alf Ramsey, Glen Hoddle, and Ron Greenwood—have won a higher percentage of their games than Southgate. Let’s see how he stands among some of England’s greatest in the technical area.
Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello managed England from 2008 to 2012, bringing a strict and disciplined approach that ensured professionalism. Under his leadership, England qualified comfortably for the 2010 World Cup. However, his tenure was overshadowed by a disappointing tournament, culminating in a heavy defeat to Germany.
Despite the setbacks, Capello’s tactical experience and organisational skills left a lasting impact, although many feel he could have gotten more from a talented group that included Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrad, Frank Lampard and John Terry in some of their peak years.
Sir Alf Ramsey
The architect behind England’s greatest triumph, Sir Alf Ramsey delivered the nation’s only World Cup win in 1966. Known for his tactical innovation, Ramsey’s “Wingless Wonders” paved the way for England’s famous 4-2 victory over West Germany in the final, lifting the trophy at Wembley.
His tactics were ahead of the game for their time and helped etch the manager’s name in English football folklore.
Glenn Hoddle
Even though Glenn Hoddle’s time as England’s manager was relatively short, from 1996 to 1999, he made a significant impact by bringing a more technical and sophisticated approach to the Three Lions setup.
Under his guidance, England showcased some of their most entertaining football in years, especially during the memorable 1998 World Cup campaign, where they narrowly missed out against Argentina.
Hoddle’s time was defined by the plethora of great English strikers at his disposal. From Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, and Teddy Sheringham to Ian Wright and Robbie Fowler, it was surprising that England never won anything with that group.
Bobby Robson
Bobby Robson’s journey with England was marked by deep runs in major tournaments, most notably taking the team to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup before losing to Germany on penalties.
A UEFA Cup-winning manager with Ipswich Town and revelled amongst Newcastle fans, his leadership was at the forefront of the Italia ’90 success, creating moments that endeared him to fans and cemented his legacy in the history of English football.
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Sven-Göran Eriksson, who recently passed away, was the first non-British manager of England, guiding the team to three consecutive quarter-finals between 2001 and 2006. He was a popular figure who took charge of England’s ‘Golden Generation’ at two World Cups.
