Sir Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate was the manager of the England men's national football team for eight years. He became the first England manager to lead the team to the finals of the European Championships (something he did in two successive tournaments) and only the third manager to reach the World Cup semi-finals with the England team. A former player himself, he was credited with building a team that defied expectations, rejected comparisons with past England teams, and embodied a culture of teamwork, humility, and resolve. 

Noted as a player for an air of calm but determined authority, Gareth played for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesborough, going on to manage the latter club after retiring from playing. Alongside over four hundred Premier League appearances he also gained fifty-seven England caps. After managing Middlesborough, and working as an ITV pundit, Gareth was appointed as the FA’s Head of Elite Development before taking charge of the England under-21s team. Following a successful spell as interim boss after the departure of Sam Allardyce the previous month, he became senior manager for the Three Lions squad.

Under Gareth’s guidance the England men's team went from strength to strength. After reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in twenty-eight years, and making the final of the European Championships for the first time, both Gareth and the team became a source of national pride. The spirit, unity, modesty, and professionalism that the team showed, not weighed down by egos or outside pressures, was seen as testament to Gareth’s management. He had instilled a culture that was thought to be missing from previous set-ups; a determined team spirit tempered by hard work, flexibility, and even fun. He opened the team to the media, created a more relaxed atmosphere within the camp, and ensured a shared sense of purpose unburdened by history. The positive environment he created allowed players to learn and grow. Gareth became a coach to challenge himself and to help others, taking responsibility for results and pressure off players.

Gareth combined his experience on the pitch, his FA roles as a youth coach and development director and his media experience to create a new type of team. In speeches he talks about finding the balance between praise and constructive criticism, taking on both bad cop and good cop roles, and sharing responsibilities amongst the coaching team so while one person is looking at the big picture, another can be focusing on the details. He also shares the importance of diversity of thought to keep approaches fresh and analytical, looking to other sports and disciplines to help inform his decisions. On leadership he discusses learning from mistakes, listening to those in his team with different expertise, and ensuring the team is united in their goals, both on and off the pitch.