Man Utd legend Paul Scholes urges England to hire ‘win win’ Gareth Southgate replacement after announcing exit

But what were the best – and worst matches – from the popular gaffer’s eight-year reign before that devastating Sunday night in Berlin? Here we take a look.

THE HIGHS:

Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 on pens,) 2018 World Cup

This was the night that long-suffering supporters finally started to believe that it was coming home.

Despite conceding a late equaliser, England held their nerve to advance to the quarter final of the World Cup 2018 on penalties.

It was our first shootout victory for 22 years.

Spain 2-3 England, 2018 Nations League

Following on from the World Cup, England won in Spain for the first time in 31 years with a brilliant Uefa Nations League victory.

Southgate’s boys stunned the Seville crowd into silence with a thrilling performance that saw them lead 3-0 at the break thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace and Marcus Rashford.

Although the hosts scored two after the break, the way the Three Lions tore La Roja apart excited every fan.

England 2-1 Denmark, Euro 2020 semi-final

Southgate led England to their first major final in 55 years as they beat Denmark after extra-time in the Euro 2020 semi-final.

Having fallen behind after half an hour, the Three Lions battled back to send it to extra-time courtesy of an own goal.

Then it was captain Kane who converted a rebound after Kasper Schmeichel originally saved his penalty in extra-time to win it.

England 3-0 Sengal, 2022 World Cup last 16

England had already blown Iran and Wales, 6-2 and 3-0 respectively, away in the World Cup 2022 group stages before they breezed past Senegal.

The free-scoring Three Lions recorded another big win to set-up a mouthwatering quarter-final against France – what could go wrong?

Italy 1-2 England, Euro qualifiers, 2023

On a night when Harry Kane became England’s all-time top scorer, the Three Lions recorded a first away win over Italy since 1961.

It was the first game since their 2022 World Cup exit, and it ensured a perfect start to their Euro 2022 qualifying campaign.

England 2-1 Holland, Euro 2024 sem-final

The nation doubted Southgate’s men in the semis of Euro 2024, but they responded with a barnstorming display.

Xavi Simons opened the scoring for the Dutch but Harry Kane’s penalty drew us level.

And Ollie Watkins slotted in a brilliant winner in injury time to see the Three Lions into their second successive Euros final.

AND THE LOWS….

Croatia 2-1 England, World Cup semi-final, 2018

Having led England to a first World Cup semi-final since 1990, Southgate men made a dream start as Kieran Trippier put them ahead in the early exchanges.

But Ivan Perisic equalised as the Croats began to take control.

Some of Southgate’s substitutions were then questioned after his team were beaten in extra-time, although many gave him the benefit of the doubt as he returned a hero.

Italy 1-1 England (3-2 pens) Euro 2020 final

Will probably never get a better chance to have secured a trophy for the Three Lions than this final of the last European Championship.

Luke Shaw gave us the lead after just seconds, but just like against Croatia three years earlier, we sat back and let our rivals back into it.

Leonardo Bonucci duly equalised in the second half and the game eventually went to penalties.

The unfortunate Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all brought on to take a spot-kick, but the brave trio all missed as the Azzurri broke our hearts to take the prize.

England 0-4 Hungary, Nations League 2023

A year on from the Euros and it was utter embarrassment for Southgate in this Nations League game at Molineux.

It was our biggest home defeat since 1928 and the result led to England being relegated from the top group of the Nations League and back to one that contained the Republic of Ireland, Finland and Greece.

England 1-2 France, World Cup 2022 quarter-finals

Another case of what could have been.

Having been free-scoring throughout Qatar 2022, many fancied us to go all the way at the World Cup despite taking on the holders in the quarters.

We fought back from going behind to level through Kane and many believe that France were then there for the taking had Southgate deployed a more attacking approach.

Instead, they seemed content with what they had until Olivier Giroud pounced 12 minutes from time to win it.

But there was still one more twist of the knife for England as the usually-reliable Kane skied a late penalty over the bar uncharacteristically as we crashed out.

GARETH SOUTHGATE won nothing but changed everything, writes Charlie Wyett.

The decision for him to resign is the correct one but Southgate leaves a legacy which will hugely benefit his successor.

So how will he be viewed in history? It might be kinder in a few years’ time.

At the moment, there is still so much frustration at the way it all ended in Berlin.

Yet Southgate is second only to Sir Alf Ramsey in terms of overall success and no other manager gets close.

To get to two major finals — one on foreign soil for the first time — was a huge achievement.

So was the overhaul of a dysfunctional football team which had just lost to Iceland at Euro 2016.

The players were so paranoid they even refused to tell us in France who was the best at playing table tennis.

That deluded group of individuals thought everyone was against them — and they weren’t.

Southgate changed all that with a far more grown-up approach.

He encouraged the players to tell their own story, to express themselves, and he got rid of a siege mentality that did not need to exist.

Former manager Fabio Capello used to moan that the England team played with fear.

Under Southgate, players loved pulling on that white shirt.

There were no more cliques, no more egos and no more pulling out of squads with dubious injuries which then cleared up by the next Prem game.

Southgate created a club atmosphere within the England team and now you only have to look at the pictures each time the players greet each other at St George’s Park.

They are all mates, pulling together in the same direction, as it should be.

Southgate has been a class act and he leaves with his head held high.

England just fell short with him in charge. There’s no denying that.

But let’s hope Southgate will still get the respect he deserves and is remembered as the man who did, indeed, change everything.

Read Charlie Wyett’s full article on Gareth Southgate.

Or check out all of Charlie’s Euro 2024 columns.

There is a natural preference to appoint an English successor.

And in an ideal world, the England manager should always be English. But this is not an ideal scenario.

So the FA must be ambitious in sounding out the best man for the job, regardless of nationality.

Because England need a manager who would gain instant respect with players, who would be tactically bold enough to take on Spain and a strong enough character to deal with Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid Galactico status, which threatens to cause future issues within the England squad. Yes, when the FA have gone foreign in the past, it hasn’t worked out well.

Yet the problem with Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello was that neither had any previous involvement in English football.

They lacked knowledge and understanding of the football culture — indeed, Capello barely spoke the language.

Now there is a wealth of overseas managerial talent with significant Premier League experience, including Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel.

Read more from Dave Kidd on who England should turn to.