England Midfielder Osman Backed Southgate to Stay Before Shock Exit

At the just concluded UEFA Euro 2024, the Three Lions suffered their second consecutive defeat at the final of a major tournament. This was no thanks to an 86th minute dagger by Mikel Oyarzabal which saw La Roja clinch their fourth European Championship.

Amid the drama of Spain’s triumph over the England men’s football team, Gareth Southgate’s job hung in the balance.

During and after the tournament, several former players and supporters poured out their overwhelming support for Southgate who had been the Three Lions’ coach for eight years.

On the flip side, many fans and legends also didn’t hold back in their criticisms of the gaffer’s tactics.

Perhaps one of his most vocal supporters, Leon Osman, a former Everton player, tipped Southgate to stay till the 2026 World Cup.

Osman Hoped The Football Association Would “Force (Southgate) to Keep the Job”
In a radio interview with the BBC, Osman said: “We’ll just remember in 20 years or so we got the latter stages of four tournaments on the run and we had those moments, we had those house parties.”

The midfielder further said that it was highly unlikely that England would have such a good run anytime soon. He also considered Southgate’s achievement one to be proud of.

Osman, who won two international caps for the England team didn’t stop there. He believed that despite a rather frustrating tournament, Southgate who had managed to secure a spot in two finals deserved to remain in charge. He acknowledged that some things could have been done differently, but the FA should do everything to keep Southgate.

News Sources Reported that The FA Considered Extending the England Coach’s Contract
It turned out Osman was not the only one who wished to see Gareth Southgate as the tactician in England’s dressing room during the 2026 World Cup.

Many close sources to the heads of the Football Association also mentioned that the FA threw their weight behind the Watford-born coach.

Southgate’s contract was due to expire in December 2024. And despite negative sentiments at the start of the European Championship, the run to the final impressed the FA.

Mark Bullingham, the FA chief executive, told the press that he is certain that Southgate did a phenomenal job coaching the Three Lions. In his words, he “thinks the world” about the gaffer.

“I think he has transformed the fortunes of our team. That’s not just off the pitch, and you can see the culture, but also the performances on the pitch,” Bullingham said before the final game.

The FA’s chief executive made reference to Southgate’s record-breaking run of knockout victories. Not only did Gareth Southgate lead England to their first ever major tournament final on foreign soil, he won nine knockout games. This is more than every other manager combined between 1966 and 2016 achieved.

All of these pointers, combined with speculations from insiders, suggested that the FA could extend Southgate’s contract beyond the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Southgate Announced Resignation Days After Euro Final to the Shock of Supporters
Unfortunately, the projections of fans, former England players and the FA didn’t come true. Gareth Southgate OBE announced that quit his role as the Three Lions boss on the 16th of July, 2024.

In a statement released on the FA website, Southgate revealed that the final game in Berlin was the last time he’d be in charge of the England men’s team.

“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. But it’s time for change and for a new chapter,” Southgate said.

Many England legends have poured out words of support to Southgate after announcing his resignation. Current players also tweeted encouragement to their former coach.

Since rumoured to be on the list of potential replacements at Manchester United, many believe that Southgate will set his sights on club football. Ex-Man City defender, Nedum Onuoha had also earlier predicted that the gaffer would leave the reins of English football.

In Onuoha’s words, Southgate had done a good job and he is “ready and young enough” for club football. The Nigerian-born pundit noted that he won’t be surprised if Southgate forays into club football management.

Who is on the Shortlist to Succeed Southgate as England Boss?
Ahead of the World Cup qualifiers and the 2026 mundial, there will be a search for a qualified gaffer to take over from where Southgate stopped. Former English club coaches are some of the top managers tipped to take the Three Lions all the way.

Here’s a shortlist of contenders drawn from media speculations.

• Pep Guardiola
• Eddie Howe
• Thomas Tuchel
• Graham Potter
• Mauricio Pochettino
• Jurgen Klopp

The quest for another major trophy rages on for the English men’s national team, one that has continued since 1966. Till today, no squad of the Three Lions have been able to replicate the World Cup success featuring Bobby Charlton and Alf Ramsey. Some of these legends from the 1966 World Cup have been immortalised in football museums, documentaries and even online slots such as Hot Soccer, Football Glory and others.

Casino slots are arguably the most prominent form of internet gaming (iGaming) in the UK and across the world. So, it’s no surprise that football is a prominent iGaming theme. You can learn more about iGaming market with Slotsjudge, a leading platform for slot reviews and casino information. There, you can learn all about different gaming sites in the UK and several other countries across Asia, North America and Europe. In addition, Slotsjudge lets you in on the latest promotions, games, and the safest payment methods.