"If it doesn’t happen again" - Gary Lineker makes bold prediction about Gareth Southgate's England future after EURO 2024
Gary Lineker expects Gareth Southgate to step down as England boss, regardless of whether they win or lose the Euro 2024 final against Spain. The Three Lions are in their second consecutive European Championship final, facing La Roja at the Olympiastadon Berlin.
Southgate is one of his nation's most successful managers. He's guided them to the semifinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Euro 2020 final, and the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals.
However, the former Middlesbrough boss has been scrutinized during his reign over England's playing identity. He was particularly criticized during the ongoing Euro 2024 campaign despite his troops going unbeaten.
Lineker feels Southgate will leave his job after the final and suggested that eight years in charge may be getting to the 53-year-old. The iconic former Tottenham Hotspur striker told The Sun:
"I think Gareth will go, win or lose. It is very difficult to be England manager for that long. You could see earlier in this tournament that he wasn’t himself, that he was finding it hard. I think he’ll probably call it a day."
Lineker weighed up the impact of Sunday's final against Spain, win or lose:
"If it doesn’t happen again, then the disappointment might be too much for him – but if we win, it is a glorious way to go. Go off into the sunset, stick that Knighthood on his chest and everybody will love him forever."
Southgate was appointed in September 2016 after previously coaching the Three Lions' youth. He's overseen 64 wins in 101 games and is the first manager in history to go 13 games unbeaten at the European Championships.
England face a tricky Spain side who have been in superb form and played arguably the best football of Euro 2024 in Germany. Luis de la Fuente's men are slight favorites heading to Berlin.
Euro 2024: Conor Gallagher feels Gareth Southgate's accomplishments with England deserve more recognition
Conor Gallagher has spoken glowingly about Southgate and suggested his national team manager deserves more respect. The Chelsea midfielder debuted under his current boss, and he highlighted how far England have come under his tutelage (via Sky Sports):
"I think he deserves more credit than he's got. How he's been with England and how far he's gotten in major tournaments is a major achievement. Obviously he wants nothing more to win a trophy."
The Three Lions were in a dark period before Southgate's arrival in 2016. They were knocked out of Euro 2016 by Iceland, which led to Roy Hodgson's sacking. A period of change was needed, and Southgate came in with a fresh approach, relying more on youth than perhaps his predecessors.
Southgate's tactical prowess has been questioned, but he's proven doubters wrong with his substitutions during Euro 2024. He brought Ivan Toney on against Slovakia (2-1 win) in the quarterfinals, who assisted Harry Kane in extra time for the winner.
Ollie Watkins came on late in the semifinals against the Netherlands and scored a remarkable winner (2-1). It's been a rollercoaster ride for Southgate in Germany, and he'll hope to end it with the first trophy of his managerial career.