Gareth Southgate: National hero or overhyped mediocrity?

Gareth Southgate's tactical and managerial qualities still split fan opinion as he leads England in his fourth major tournament at the Euros in Germany this summer. But one thing that can't be disputed is Southgate's ability to unite his players in a team whose confidence has been battered by two decades of under-achievment. The former Aston Villa captain has been a leading voice against racism directed at young black English players and is arguably redefining the notion of Englishness in modern Britain.  Simon and Mehreen discuss the steps and experiences that how Southgate came to manage another golden generation of English footballers, growing up in a respectable family in South London, learning from the negatives, and bouncing back from *that* penalty miss in Euro '96. But will Gareth Southgate go down in history as a unifying England manager or just another nearly-ran?  Timecodes: 00:00:43 - Proposition: Gareth Southgate is a very laudable, commendable figure, but is he a national hero or overhyped mediocrity? 00:02:22 - Southgate's background and upbringing in Crawley 00:05:52 - Joining Crystal Palace as an apprentice and experiencing class division 00:08:31 - Southgate's playing career at Palace, Villa, and Middlesbrough 00:12:04 - First meeting with Southgate and the Euro 1996 penalty miss 00:19:25 - John Major's encouragement after the penalty miss 00:22:22 - Southgate's unfulfilled club career and disappointment 00:27:56 - Becoming England manager in 2016 after a national humiliation 00:33:06 - Resetting expectations and creating a high-performance culture 00:39:20 - 2018 World Cup and learning to love the new England team 00:43:16 - Black Lives Matter movement and Southgate's stance 00:50:00 - Euro 2020 final against Italy and the penalty misses 00:54:10 - Expectations for the 2022 World Cup and Southgate's limitations 01:00:22 - Southgate's vision of an inclusive and modern Englishness 01:04:34 - Conclusion and Southgate's potential legacy Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices