Gareth Southgate will likely leave England with his last game as the Euro 2024 final defeat, according to former Three Lions talisman Alan Shearer.
England suffered another European Championship heartbreak on Sunday, falling to Mikel Oyarzbal's 86th-minute winner in Berlin as Spain snatched a deserved 2-1 victory.
Southgate's side are the first side in history to lose consecutive Euros finals, while the England manager is the first boss to ever suffer defeat in two European Championship showpieces.
With Southgate's current contract ending in December, speculation remains rife over his future with reports linking Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino as potential replacements.
Shearer, a former England team-mate of Southgate, believes the Spain defeat may mark his last at the helm of the national side.
"My guess is – and it is only a guess – he may now say to someone else that it is their turn to try to get England over the line," Shearer wrote in his BBC Sport column.
"If he does, then he has put the team in an excellent position for someone to take the team forward, to take that next step and win a major tournament."
Southgate transformed England's fortunes, steadying the ship to take them to unprecedented ground in the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the Euros finals in back-to-back editions.
"Gareth came in and put a smile on everyone's faces – bringing the squad together," the former Newcastle United striker added.
"He put the team in a much better position mentally and the spirit he nurtured helped us get to the final again.
"For achieving all of those things he deserves a huge amount of respect and gratitude, but it's just unfortunate that – for all his excellent work – Gareth just wasn't quite able to get the best out of this team in Germany, and that was the difference between us reaching another final and winning one."
With the World Cup to follow in 2026, a new era may await England, who must bounce back once more after another setback on the biggest stage.
Regardless of who takes charge in that tournament, Shearer insists Southgate should be proud of his achievements.
"Gareth will be hurting like hell after what happened in Berlin but my feeling is that, when the dust settles on the final of Euro 2024, he will decide he's had enough," Southgate's Euro 1996 team-mate said.
"It should be his decision to stay or go – and I think it will be – but it is a tiring job and he has been doing it for a long time.
"If he does leave, he should go with his head held high because England are in a completely different place now compared to where they were when he took over in 2016."
Minnesota United v D.C. United: Lesesne praises Black-and-Red's fight after ending winless streak
D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne says his side deserved the win that snapped their winless streak as they aim to keep their momentum against Minnesota United.
D.C. were on an 11-match winless run, losing eight, including a heavy 5-0 thrashing at Orlando City before their 2-1 comeback win against Nashville on Saturday.
The victory lifted them to 12th in the Eastern Conference, and another win could put them in touching distance of the playoffs.
Lesesne was pleased to finally put their torrid run behind them, saying: "I try to stay away from really obvious statements, but everyone knows the last couple of months haven't been what we wanted.
"There's performances in there, but we didn't see three points. There were so many individual performances that willed that to happen, and they've been fighting, they deserve this."
Meanwhile, Minnesota snapped their six-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo at the weekend.
The Loons moved into ninth in the Western Conference, though they still remain without a win in any of their last eight MLS outings.
However, head coach Eric Ramsay remained optimistic and is keen to build on the result to get them back in contention.
"It was a really important point," Ramsay said.
"I'm incredibly pleased with the application of the players, their aggression, their intent to spot the run we're on at the moment, so we take a lot from that."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Minnesota United – Robin Lod
Robin Lod scored his sixth goal of the season in Minnesota's draw on Saturday, his fourth season with at least six goals.
No other player in the team's MLS history has more than two seasons with six or more goals.
D.C. United – Cristian Dajome
Cristian Dajome's brace in D.C. United's win over Nashville on Saturday was the seventh multi-goal game by a D.C. United player since the start of the 2023 season, but the first by somebody other than Christian Benteke.
MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN
The home side have won all five meetings between Minnesota and D.C., with the last meeting a 2-0 home win for the Loons in 2022. Minnesota have outscored D.C., 7-0, in their three meetings at home.
Minnesota United ended their club-record six-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Houston on Saturday but remain winless in eight straight (drawn two, lost six), the longest regular-season winless run in the team's MLS history.
Meanwhile, D.C. snapped their 11-match winless run with a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday. D.C. have not won consecutive matches within a single season since a four-match winning run in April 2023.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Minnesota United – 54.2%
Draw – 23.5%
D.C. United – 22.3%
'Thank you Gareth' - Rice and Pickford lead tributes to outgoing England boss Southgate
Declan Rice thanked outgoing England boss Gareth Southgate for "memories that will stay with me forever".
Southgate announced on Tuesday he would step down as the Three Lions' head coach following their heartbreaking Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain.
It was a second successive run to the European Championship final the 53-year-old had overseen since replacing Sam Allardyce in September 2016, while also guiding England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
Rice has earned all 58 of his Three Lions caps under Southgate since making his debut in 2019, while playing in every game at each of the last three major tournaments.
"Thank you gaffer. It's been a privilege to play for England under your guidance," the Arsenal midfielder posted on his Instagram story. "Memories that will stay with me forever. All the best in your next adventure."
Jordan Pickford also made his senior international bow under Southgate in 2017, and was an ever-present in goal at all four major tournaments since.
"Completely gutted. This will hurt for a while," the Everton goalkeeper wrote on Instagram in his first post since Sunday's final.
"Appreciate everyone who supported us during the tournament and I’d like to thank all my teammates and staff for their work throughout.
"I also want to say a special thank you to the boss for always believing in me during his time with us and I would like to wish him all the best in his next steps. Thank you Gareth."
Southgate steps down as England manager
Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager following their Euro 2024 final defeat.
Southgate's contract was due to expire at the end of the year, but the 53-year-old had admitted he was unlikely to carry on if they did not lift the trophy.
He was in charge of the Three Lions for eight years, having taken on the role following Sam Allardyce's abrupt exit in September 2016.
Southgate managed England at four major tournaments, leading them to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in the first.
The former defender then led the side to their first major tournament final since 1966 at Euro 2020, losing 3-2 on penalties to Italy at Wembley, before guiding them to the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
His final tournament in charge saw his side reach their first-ever final on foreign soil, though a 2-1 defeat to Spain saw England become the first team in history to lose consecutive Euros finals, with Southgate the only manager to ever lose two such matches.
Southgate took charge of 102 matches with England, winning 61 of those, with the Three Lions netting 223 goals during his tenure.
His 14 wins at major tournaments are the most of any manager in England's history, while they reached more finals (two) in four attempts than they did in their first 23 appearances at the World Cup and Euros.
Speaking to the Football Association's (FA) website, Southgate said: "As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England.
"It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all. But it's time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday's final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager.
"I have had the privilege of leading a large group of players in 102 games. Every one of them has been proud to wear the three lions on their shirts, and they have been a credit to their country in so many ways.
"The squad we took to Germany is full of exciting young talent, and they can win the trophy we all dream of.
"I am so proud of them, and I hope we get behind the players and the team at St. George's Park and the FA, who strive every day to improve English football and understand the power football has to drive positive change.
"We have the best fans in the world, and their support has meant the world to me. I'm an England fan and I always will be.
"I look forward to watching and celebrating as the players go on to create more special memories and to connect and inspire the nation as we know they can.
"Thank you, England – for everything."
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