Gary Neville claims Gareth Southgate may have decided to quit England 'two weeks ago' - as pundit insists the job has 'taken a toll' on him and 'you could sense' problems behind the scenes
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Gary Neville believes Gareth Southgate may have privately decided to quit while England were still playing at Euro 2024.
The former England international thinks the job has 'taken a toll' on Southgate and that problems behind the scenes were obvious - but he was also lavish in his praise.
Southgate has resigned from the England job after eight years and four international tournaments on the back of a second consecutive Euros final defeat.
The 53-year-old called it the 'honour of my life' to play for and manage his country but called for a 'new chapter' to begin.
Neville told Sky Sports: 'I think he may have made up his mind a couple of weeks ago.
Neville believes Southgate may have decided to quit England mid-way through Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager following the side's heartbreaking defeat in the final of Euro 2024
'What Gareth has done in this last eight years, he's achieved incredible things on the pitch but he's also achieved incredible things off the pitch.
'Knowing how difficult it is to manage the politics of England, the media, the club vs country rivalries that have existed - he's removed all those barriers.
'He's handled penalties better than anybody, he's reduced the fear. He's done an incredible job but it will have taken a toll on him.
'There were signs in this tournament that things were just starting to flare a little bit behind the scenes. Not because of any intelligence I've got, you could just sense it.
'Maybe eight years and the timing is right. I feel he's done a great job and that's the most important thing.
'Usually, you need to retire for people to call you a great man or a good person. People haven't been shy of saying that in the last eight years because he's generally someone in a leadership positon who's got integrity, honesty, he's a fantastic person. That's unusual in this day and age.'
Southgate was unable to end England's curse which has been running ever since they lifted the 1966 World Cup.
He is the only manager to lead the Three Lions to a major tournament final besides Sir Alf Ramsey - and did it twice.
Southgate initially took over as England boss on a caretaker basis in 2016 following the sacking of Sam Allardyce
He led England to two European Championships finals, as well as a World Cup quarter and semi-final
Since 1966 England had only won seven knockout games until Southgate arrived across 25 tournaments.
In four tournaments across eight years, Southgate led them to nine knockout wins and a first major tournament final on foreign soil.
Though they lost on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2024 final, he expelled the hoodoo hanging over England scoring critical shoot-out victories over Colombia at the 2018 World Cup and Switzerland at Euro 2024.
He was unable to seal a dream exit in his 102nd match in charge against Spain but England fans have a lot of memories to be grateful for.
Neville added: 'I'm not surprised (he left). I thought that Gareth would call it a day. I think there were hints during that tournament when he was speaking that you felt like it might be time.
'When he used that phrase "unusual environment" and obviously what happened on Sunday. I'm not sure it's based on Sunday's result but just the feeling after that game.
'He's had an amazing time for eight years and he's surpassed all expectations of every single England fan. He deserved to call it a day on his terms and he's done that.
Southgate will be remembered for changing England's relationship with penalty shoot-outs
Under his management, the Three Lions won three of their four shoot-outs, having won only one in their previous seven
England were perfect from the spot from their five attempts in their quarter-final win over Switzerland at Euro 2024
'I don't disagree with the decision from a point of view that the sentiment in this tournament you could just sense, and he knows England better than anybody. It was the right moment for him. He's done an outstanding job.
'(If England had won) He might still be resigning but I think it would be with a completely different feeling around it.'
