Sterling has gone from hate figure to a national treasure
Mental strength and professionalism at the heart of England star’s rise, says Southgate
It was barely 14 months ago that Raheem Sterling returned from the World Cup feeling “a bit sad”, according to Gareth Southgate, dealing with the disappointment of his own personal performances in Russia and the nonsense of a controversy over a gun tattoo. Two years before that Sterling had styled himself the “The Hated One” after yet more frustration with England at Euro 2016.
From then to now it has been some transformation for Sterling, who is undoubtedly a performer of world-class consistency, a huge presence for club and country and a 24-year-old who is, probably, the most influential British sportsman. “For me, it’s lovely to see the shift in the public opinion of him,” the England manager said.
That shift has taken place off the field as well with Sterling’s thoughtful intervention on social media last year over the perception and treatment of black players by some in the media. He has
significantly moved the dial on that debate, which was also a public sign of just how important a figure he has become in the England squad.
“That’s a brave thing to decide that, ‘Right, I’m going to own that space and I’m going to put my own views across’. But those views represent many as well, so I think he’s aware of the power of his voice, but he also doesn’t waste it,” Southgate said, adding: “I think he was very forthright in his social media posts. I think he raised everybody’s awareness and made us all think, which was very mature and impressive. And, at the same time, he rose to the challenge with his club [Manchester City], with new signings coming in. “You know, when you are at a club like that, to keep fighting off the quality of players that he has; and straight away with us, got the goals in Spain – first game after the World Cup for him, really. Croatia away, Spain. I think it was such a huge weight lifted for him, he almost jumped six foot in the stadium, didn’t he?
“So I think from that moment – because he did come home a bit sad after the World Cup, there’s no hiding from that. He didn’t deserve to feel that way, but that’s as he was, so it’s lovely to see the recognition he’s getting and how much extra I think that’s bringing out of him.”
It has been welldocumented that Sterling only scored twice in his first 45 England games, but
‘If there are things that he thinks we can do better, then he will thoughtfully put his ideas across’
now, launching himself in that Nations League campaign against Spain and Croatia, he has eight in eight and is one of the world’s most in-form players. He is also justifiably in the debate as to whether, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ageing, he can seal his status on a global stage.
Southgate enthused about Sterling’s ability to “grab the game by the scruff of the neck”, as he did in both of England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers – against Bulgaria and Kosovo – and whether he can become the world’s best.
“There are obviously some outstanding players around,” Southgate said. “But he will give himself every chance because he’s got the drive, he’s got the professionalism, he’s got the ability, he’s strong, he’s physically and mentally strong for such a small-statured lad. It was hysterical the other day, he and [Joe] Gomez had a shoulder-to-shoulder moment [in training].
“And, of course, they were bantering about it for the rest of the week. But, he is physically strong – so he is so hard to knock off the ball.”
That strength is also mental, with Sterling being a key member of Southgate’s leadership group – along with the likes of Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson – and a role model for younger players such as 19-year-old Jadon Sancho.
“If there are things that he thinks can be better – with the mentality of the players or the way that we’ve set the week out, he’ll thoughtfully put ideas across; he doesn’t just sit and complain,” Southgate explained. “But then you see his interaction with the players. I noticed, over the last 24 hours especially [before the Kosovo game], he spent a lot of time with Jadon. I think that was probably quite a comfort.
“He can pass things on that I can speak [about] as the coach, but there’ll be more depth to that if your fellow winger who has been at the same club as you, and has been through what you’re going to go through, can talk to you. I think that’s far more powerful. You can’t quantify what that will have meant for Jadon.”
And of Sterling’s journey from those dark times when he appeared to be the scapegoat for many? What was that like for him? “Difficult for me to say. I can only imagine,” Southgate said. “Everyone wants to be liked, don’t they?
“He’s a player that has always given his all. You know how much it means to him, how much he wants to do well. So, I think it’s for him to reflect on how he might have felt then and, for me, it’s just lovely to see a young man establishing himself at the real top table in the game.”