Podcast: Heroes & Humans of Football
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HEROES & HUMANS OF FOOTBALL 
EPISODE:
14

National hero or overhyped mediocrity?

His tactical and managerial qualities still split fan opinion.

BY: 
SIMON KUPER, MEHREEN KHAN
November 12, 2024
Heroes & Humans of Football (Podcast)
EPISODE
14
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June 13, 2024

National hero or overhyped mediocrity?

Gareth Southgate's tactical and managerial qualities still split fan opinion as he leads England in his fourth major tournament at the Euros in Germany this summer. But one thing that can't be disputed is Southgate's ability to unite his players in a team whose confidence has been battered by two decades of under-achievment. The former Aston Villa captain has been a leading voice against racism directed at young black English players and is arguably redefining the notion of Englishness in modern Britain.

Simon and Mehreen discuss the steps and experiences that how Southgate came to manage another golden generation of English footballers, growing up in a respectable family in South London, learning from the negatives, and bouncing back from *that* penalty miss in Euro '96. But will Gareth Southgate go down in history as a unifying England manager or just another nearly-ran?