Was Gareth Southgate’s time up? Our readers review his England tenure

‘I’d prefer some front-foot football ’

Southgate has earned the right to decide when he leaves given his record. He’s taken us far in tournaments but it’s the stakes rather than the style of football which has brought excitement. Right now I’d take some front-foot football over being runners-up at a major tournament, even if that means going back to crashing out at the round of 16. I think his success should partly be measured in the seeds that have been sown for future England managers. The penalty win against Switzerland at the Euros was my best moment. There was a redemptive quality to it that had roots going as deep as the manager’s miss in 1996. Cathartic. Of the names the bookies are running with, I’d happily take Mauricio Pochettino or Thomas Tuchel. I would also love it if Arsène Wenger threw his name into the hat. Stephen Boden

‘He conducted himself with grace and dignity’

It’s the right time because, as good as he’s been, it felt at this tournament like something was souring between him, the media, the fans and maybe even the players. I’m sad because he’s easily the best England manager of my lifetime, the last few years have been wonderful and because he’s conducted himself with such grace and dignity. If not Lee Carsley to replace Southgate, my unfashionable, probably unpopular choice (taking into account the likely difficulty of prising Eddie Howe from Newcastle) would be Sean Dyche. His style of play might not be beautiful, but his England team would be rock solid at the back and no one would have any doubt about what was expected of them in attack. I’m not sure he’s any worse or more negative than Didier Deschamps. With good players, he would surprise people. Chris

‘I’m more relieved than sad he has left’

It feels the perfect time to part ways. He took us as far as he could and, let’s not forget, that’s further than any manager since Sir Alf Ramsey. I’m more relieved than sad he has left. He definitely doesn’t deserve the hatred that gets aimed at him. The best moment of his tine in charge was the Colombia shootout win in 2018. In my dreams his replacement would be Carlo “the eyebrow” Ancelotti: a winner who isn’t wedded to one style but knows how to get the job done. In the real world it would be Graham Potter, who is very tactically astute and would carry on the good vibes. Gareth Southgate started. Finlay Fletcher

‘Ange Postecoglou would be perfect’

He is being judged a failure for not winning a tournament rather than a success for making that seem a realistic prospect. I will be sad to see him go, but he has done everything he could have done and will no doubt welcome a rest. As well as the impact he has had on the mentality of the team and players’ willingness to play internationally, he doesn’t receive enough credit for making sure those players choose England. Without Southgate, would England have had Declan Rice or Jack Grealish? Or Bukayo Saka, Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa or Kobbie Mainoo? Ange Postecoglou would be perfect. He plays attacking football, has international experience and has shown he can have an immediate impact, which is essential for international managers, who don’t have much time to work with the team. He is also likable and charismatic. Adam Preece

‘He has instilled a sense of pride’

I would rate his tenure as nine out of 10. If you had said in 2016 that England would have reached two finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final, nobody would have believed you. He has restored a lot of respect for the team and totally reversed the scorn with which many of the players were viewed. The team is now more important than individual players and he has instilled a sense of pride and togetherness within them during a period when those qualities are otherwise lacking in public life. I would want an English manager, so Howe and Carsley would be good choices. What should be avoided, I think, is anyone identified with a single English club, such as Klopp; not because I don’t think he would do a decent job, but because being associated with one club would inevitably lead to charges of favouritism. Steve Lacey

‘How about Emma Hayes or Sarina Wiegman?’

He must be sick of the bilious criticism from people who don’t work with the players on a regular basis and don’t see what they do in training. Two more years of that, regardless of the result in the World Cup, would do his head in. Unless you can get Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti, I’d go very leftfield, a radical change while still sticking with the values he has added to the set up. Emma Hayes, or maybe Southgate can swap jobs with Sarina Wiegman? Eric de Greef

‘It is time for him and the team to move on’

He has been a great success. We all remember our gallant failures and disappointing exits in previous eras. Now we have become used to being around at the sharp end each time. I have been a fan from the start, but it is time for him and the team to move on. Eight years as an England manager, particularly these days of instant reaction, is a long time. He seemed tired from the outset of the tournament. Looking back, my favourite moment under Southgate was when we won 3-2 in Spain . They were very much a world class side then, as they still are. The result made me realise that we have a seriously good team. I have a feeling we will go for Howe, though we should try to lure Klopp back to the game. I’m not too fussed about having an English manager; let’s just get the right person. Perhaps after the next managerial cycle we can consider Michael Carrick. David Harding

‘A change of style would be welcomed’

He changed the perception of the team after some horrible times and brought unprecedented success in his own way. He is, as everyone always says, clearly a decent person too. However, I have not really liked how his team has played for a while (the Euro 2020 final was a major letdown) and a change of style would be welcomed. Reaching finals should never be sniffed at, but losing them is not fun, particularly as both performances were somewhat weak. Ben

‘He should have left after the last World Cup’

He should have resigned or been let go after the 2022 World Cup. That said, I am sad to see him go, as he is clearly a very admirable human being and an outstanding “man manager.” However, his deficiencies in other important football managerial domains are holding back a golden generation of English players. It has to be viewed as a success relative to decades of hugely disappointing performances. But, his inability to manage England to a tournament win, when they could have won any of the past three major tournaments, means I can only grade him at best 7.5/10. I’d want Jürgen Klopp, 100%. He would bring all the man-management talent that Southgate did, and then some, plus he has all of the other critical managerial abilities that Southgate unfortunately lacked. And he’s essentially an honorary Englishman after his long and successful tenure at Liverpool. Good luck convincing him though. Chris Borth