Southgate you’re the one

The Retune Blog - 21st June 2024

Ok, so I’m being a bit cheeky with this one really as I’m just going to use the title of the song, but you’ll see why. This week’s song choice is Atomic Kitten’s Southgate You’re the One.

Writing this on Monday I’m not sure what the mood of the nation will be like Friday morning given England are playing again Thursday evening. Yet, win draw or lose, people always seem to have strong feelings about the England manager Gareth Southgate.

I find Southgate’s story and approach fascinating and inspiring. Missing a penalty for England in Euro 96 at Wembley, Southgate clearly felt distraught. England went out of the tournament and Southgate had to find a way of dealing with his disappointment and his part in the loss.

Not too long later, Southgate featured in an advert for a pizza company making fun out of himself over the miss. I loved his strategy, rather than backing down he faced up to what had happened and owned it.

Career wise, he did similar, continuing to play for England in the following two major international tournaments and making the step up from player to manager at Middlesbrough. Although the team got relegated, Southgate stayed and attempted to bring the team back up, albeit with less resources than they previously had when he took over. Again, a mark of the man, never backing down from a challenge, throwing himself into what presented itself full on.

The team were competitive in their attempt to get promoted straight back up but after a run of three home defeats a home win couldn’t prevent Southgate being dismissed. But again, rather than feel sorry for himself Southgate used the time well and after four years out of football took over as England youth team coach, and eventually was promoted to first team manager.

When I see Gareth Southgate on TV, I see a man who is resilient, focused and considered. Throughout the ups and downs of his career he has demonstrated a strength not to be put off course by the thoughts or actions of others, or his own mistakes. But instead had chosen to use his experiences as something to learn from and to choose to be resilient to the judgement and criticism of others.

Whatever the result for the England football team might be in this tournament, I’m inspired by Southgate’s character and hope I too can develop and maintain such a grounded way to approach all I do.

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