Last Tuesday, Southgate announced his resignation as head coach of the England men’s national team. Wiegman, the England women’s head coach who is currently leading her team in the European qualifiers, paid tribute to Southgate in an interview with the media, praising the “incredible” impact he had on English football.
Southgate is the first manager in history to lose two consecutive European Championship finals, and the England men’s team became the first to reach back-to-back European Championship finals but lost both. Regarding the pressure of coaching the England team, Wiegman can empathize, although she led the England women’s team to victory at home in 2022, winning the 2022 Women’s Euro Championship.
After drawing with Sweden’s women’s team in Gothenburg, England’s women secured their place in the 2025 Swiss Women’s Euro. After the game, Wiegman spoke to the media about her impressions of Southgate. Wiegman said, “Honestly, Southgate is a good man and a great coach. We don’t see each other often, but when we do, the interaction feels very good. What he has done for English football is truly incredible. The men’s team reached the European Championship final twice in a row, and I think he should be very, very proud of himself. England will be proud of him, and as a Dutchman, I am also proud of him.”