Total respect for Lions king Gareth

OK, hands up, I have had my doubts about Gareth Southgate as a manager – but I will never have doubts about him as a man.

The world has been through so much in the last 18 months with Covid that the Euros have been an incredible tonic for this country.

Seeing England do well has been one thing, but it has been about something bigger than that. Finally, we have seen people come together and truly connect over something after such a long period of isolation and disconnection.

It really has breathed some life back into us.

The way Southgate (top) and this team have conducted themselves has been something of which we can all be proud.

Sadly, I remember too many major tournaments where there have been distractions away from the football – the WAG circus at the 2006 World Cup or player complaints about Fabio Capello’s choice of training base at the 2010 World Cup.

There has been nothing like that during this tournament. It has purely been about the football. And this is in a time when football has continued to struggle with racism, which has been directly aimed at some of this squad.

Southgate and the players have made their feelings clear over this, but they haven’t let it derail them.

We haven’t seen constant references to it in interviews or the issue affecting players on the field. This team has held itself on a higher plane to that, and have set a wonderful example of how our national sports teams should conduct themselves in general society.

There has been an equality about the squad, no one believing they are above anyone else. There has been a celebration of each other’s successes. You only had to watch the bench to see how they celebrated the overall team’s success.

There has been a grace to how they have dealt with all their results, with Southgate and Harry Kane (left) being wonderful examples of this.

Footballers are often accused of being highly-paid stars, who are out of touch with reality. This cannot be levelled at this manager and set of players. They have showed humility and respect to all.

All of this has been predominantly driven by Southgate and, for that, he has my absolute respect.

We can always disagree over tactics, methods or approach. But if we truly believe that football ‘comes home’ to England, then we have to set the example for how our players and teams should conduct themselves at major tournaments.

England should be a barometer for world football.

Thank you, Gareth, for being an excellent leader and man throughout the Euros.

The players also deserve applause for their part in this, but the manager sets the tone and direction, and we have had a quality person doing this for England.