Gareth Southgate

You know, some kids think we always get to finals, you know.

they've never known anything different they haven't lived the 45 years we have so leadership's hard isn't it you know and it's never been harder because of 24 7 media social media that is the landscape it comes with great rewards great experiences and there's a there's another side to that as well if you'd have known the cost so would you have still taken the job

Well, I did know what the costs would be.

When Roy left, I was asked to apply and I backed off of it, really.

And one of the reasons being I'd seen all those previous managers and

do I want to go through all of that?

And a little bit of a lack of belief in myself, perhaps, and a feeling that actually an internal appointment at that moment where we'd just lost to Iceland, I think we'd have got lambasted by the public.

So actually two months down the line when Sam left, slightly different.

Actually, we've got a game in a week's time.

Somebody's got to take the team.

I'm the only one left, so we'll give it a go.

There's a different narrative that you're inheriting.

If you're going in on the back foot from the start, it's hard to change that.

You're pushing a boulder up a hill from the off.

It's not impossible to turn that around, but it's much, much harder.

So despite the way it finished, you didn't ever regret taking the job?

Oh, God, no.

I mean, the life experience I've had, the things I've been able to do, I've met...

royal family, prime ministers, travelled the world at the most amazing nights in professional sport, been involved in some of the biggest games in world football, amazing relationships with players and staff.

So, no, I mean, you know, for all the... We focused a little bit on a period where it's hard and, you know, that leaves a few scars.