Andy Cole fears for next England manager after criticism of Gareth Southgate

Former England striker Andy Cole says he fears for the next England manager and believes that some of the criticism of Gareth Southgate during Euro 2024 was unfair.

Southgate ended his eight-year tenure as England boss on Tuesday, two days after his side had lost 2-1 to Spain in the final in Berlin.

The 53-year-old came in for heavy criticism from England fans and pundits following a series of disappointing displays, but Cole has defended Southgate’s record as head coach.

Former Newcastle and Manchester United number nine Cole told the PA news agency: “I don’t think a lot of the criticism has been fair.

“We can always have a go at the manager and say, ‘he’s this and he’s that’, but he’s been the most successful manager in 58 years, so he can’t be that bad.

“I didn’t expect him to go. For me, if he had stayed, it would have made no difference.

“But he’s very hurt by what’s happened.

“Whoever gets the job now, I wish them all the best because they’re going to have to be a (Manchester City boss Pep) Guardiola.

“Whoever it is will take 100 per cent flak for picking the wrong team or the wrong players.”

Cole, who won 15 caps for England between 1995-2001 and scored 121 goals in 275 appearances for United in all competitions, believes England’s players should shoulder responsibility for their below-par performances.

“If England were good enough to win the Euros, they would have won it. Yes or no?” he said.

“The team who won it won seven games out of seven, so does that not say they are the best team?

Congratulations to former #ThreeLions players @JohnTerry26 and Andy Cole on being inducted into the #PLHallOfFame!