Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has strongly backed Gareth Southgate, calling him the “most successful England manager we’ve had for 55 years”.
The former defender, who led the side to the Euro 2020 final and the last four of the 2018 World Cup, is under some pressure after failing to win any of their four Nations League matches, culminating in a 4-0 defeat to Hungary — their worst at home in 94 years.
Ad/> Southgate received a significant backlash on social media, with just five months to go until the Qatar World Cup and one more international break to come before the tournament starts.
UEFA Nations LeagueFour arrests at England game as police officer left unconscious15/06/2022 AT 08:35 But speaking to journalists, Hewitt — a former chief executive at the RAC who also has involvement with brands like Visa — said she has rarely worked with someone as impressive as Southgate. “My personal opinion on Gareth is that he is, by the facts on the pitch, the most successful England manager we’ve had for 55 years,” said Hewitt, who took over as FA chair in January. “The bit people don’t see as much is the Gareth at camp and the culture he’s created. “Certainly prior to Gareth being the manager of England, there was not the pride of wearing the England shirt.