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      Chelsea legend lands first managerial job in five years after leaving Blues role and hires Champions League winner

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      CHELSEA legend Claude Makelele has agreed to become the new manager of Greek side Asteras Tripolis.The 51-year-old has been out of work since leaving his coaching role at Stamford Bridge a year ago.Chelsea legend and former technical mentor Claude Makelele has agreed to become manager of Asteras TripolisCredit: GettyMakelele was a technical mentor during his time at Chelsea, advising players on how to improve.But he is now returning to management for the first time in five years.The France legend has accepted a managerial job offer from Asteras Tripolis.The Greek side recently sacked Milan Rastavac despite sitting fifth in the Super League after three games.READ MORE ON CHELSEARobbie Keane was allegedly in advanced talks over the role and even flew to Greece to meet club chiefs.However, Tripolis have instead decided to appoint Makelele.The ex-midfielder has previously managed French club Bastia and Belgian side Eupen.He has also coached at Paris Saint-Germain and Swansea City.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFormer Swansea and Reading boss Paul Clement will join Makelele in Greece as his assistant.Clement has previously worked at some of the biggest clubs in Europe as an assistant manager, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG.Chelsea fans can’t name their OWN PLAYERS after another wild transfer window under owner Todd BoehlyHe won the Champions League with Real Madrid back in 2014 alongside Carlo Ancelotti.Clement also has a Premier League title and two FA Cups among his accolades.Chelsea will lose their soul by leaving Stamford BridgeBy Matt PennJUST what London needs – another £1billion bowl-shaped, soulless football stadium.No offence to Spurs, because theirs looks great, but it’s not like they had years of title-winning history to celebrate at White Hart Lane.Arsenal moved on from Highbury a couple of years after their last Premier League title win in 2004, and to no avail, they’ve been chasing that glory ever since.And the less said about West Ham’s move from Upton Park, the better. The Olympic Stadium pales in significance to Upton Park, where binoculars weren’t needed to see the pitch from Row Z.It’s no secret Chelsea fans have become disillusioned with the club since Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took over from Roman Abramovich two years ago.The sacking of two full-time managers in that time, a 12th-place finish in the league, no European football, billions spent on Brazilian teenagers you’ve never heard of and civil war between the owners have turned the club into a laughing stock.Seems like the perfect time to revamp plans to leave Stamford Bridge, doesn’t it?According to The Guardian, Chelsea are in talks to move to a new 60,000-seater site in Earl’s Court, something they’ve attempted before.Chelsea are said to have made plans for the Lillie Bridge depot site as an area that could be developed in a move that could cost hundreds of millions.Forget that so much else still needs fixing on the pitch, that the results are still not going the way they should, that players still can’t seem to click on a consistent basis.The owners, who are said to be looking to buy each other out already, might not think it, and the seats might be a little rusty, but fans do value tradition.The Bridge has been a place supporters can call home every other Saturday. It’s raw, the stands are close to the pitch, it has four sides, and most importantly, it’s owned by the fans.For any deal to go through, Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO), a group made up of over 14,000 fans, have to approve a move away from the 42,000-seater stadium.On the other hand, redvelopment of Stamford Bridge would see the team move away from the stadium for a number of years, likely double the three years Tottenham spent at Wembley.But why not overhaul each stand one-by-one? Both Liverpool and Fulham had stands refurbished and they were able to stay put. There are also plans for Crystal Palace to do the same.If Boehly and Eghbali are so desperate to put money at the forefront of their decision-making, then go about it in a way which will appease fans.Sadly, football isn’t really about fans anymore, and it’d be easy to say Chelsea will lose their soul if they leave Stamford Bridge.But you fear they already have. More

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      Should Dream Team managers activate a Booster ahead of Gameweek 4?

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      HAVING endured an almost universally despised international break, Dream Team managers can now focus on preparations for Gameweek 4.With 13 of the 20 Premier League teams set to fulfil two fixtures, many gaffers will be tempted to activate a Booster; and perhaps with good reason.Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah’s form lends itself to a Booster in Gameweek 4Credit: Dream TeamBoosters are generally best saved for opportunities when the majority of players (and all the top teams) have two games at their disposal – Gameweek 4 seemingly fits the bill.GAMEWEEK 4 FIXTURES BY TEAM:Manchester City vs Brentford (h), Inter (h)Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest (h), Milan (a)Brighton vs Ipswich (h), Wolves (h)Arsenal vs Tottenham (a), Atalanta (a)Brentford vs Man City (a), Leyton Orient (h)Aston Villa vs Everton (h), Young Boys (a)Tottenham vs Arsenal (h), Coventry (a)Fulham vs West Ham (h), Preston (a)Manchester United vs Southampton (a), Barnsley (h)Crystal Palace vs Leicester (h), QPR (a)Wolves vs Newcastle (h), Brighton (a)Southampton vs Man United (h), Everton (a)Everton vs Aston Villa (a), Southampton (h)Newcastle vs Wolves (a)Bournemouth vs Chelsea (h)Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool (a)Chelsea vs Bournemouth (a)West Ham vs Fulham (a)Leicester vs Crystal Palace (a)Ipswich vs Brighton (a)Some managers may choose to rotate in the third round of the Carabao Cup but Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Arne Slot and Unai Emery will want to get their respective Champions League campaigns underway with a win.It’s usually the case that European fixtures have a significant impact on the overall leaderboard (not mention Mini Leagues worldwide) and so Dream Team bosses could potentially get ahead of the game by playing a Booster in Gameweek 4.Aston Villa have Champions League fixtures to enhance their schedule this seasonCredit: GettyHere’s a quick reminder about each Booster’s effect:Goal Bonus: Goals are worth nine points instead of the usual six12th Man: Select an additional player for freeMax Captain: Automatically captains the player who top scores in your XI (double points)All three Boosters are viable in Gameweek 4 but Max Captain may not be necessary at this stage with Erling Haaland (£8.8m) in such devastating form.Most read in FootballThe Norwegian poacher has plundered 59 points in just three outings so far this season.If you activate your Max Captain Booster and Haaland ends up top-scoring, a relatively likely outcome, then that’s essentially a waste of a Booster because you probably would have captained him anyway.Of course, if Haaland missed out against Brentford and Inter at the same time one of your lesser-owned assets bagged two or three goals then the Max Captain Booster would have a hugely positive impact – it’s just that you don’t really want to be in a position where you’re betting against Man City’s No9.59 points and countingCredit: RexWith Haaland and Mohamed Salah (£7.3m) both in such good form, gaffers who own both might consider activating the Goal Bonus Booster.The pair have scored ten goals from six outings between them already this season and so Gameweek 4 has to be considered ripe with potential.Alternatively, Dream Team bosses who only own one of Haaland or Salah currently might want to activate 12th Man to recruit the other’s services for the upcoming Gameweek at least.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWWhile it’s undoubtedly a tempting time to play a Booster, it’s certainly not a necessity. We’re only three Gameweeks into the new campaign and many gaffers will want a clearer lay of the land before they pull out the big guns.Plus, it might be beneficial to wait until a Gameweek when Spurs, Man United (both Europa League) and Chelsea (Conference League) are active in Europe alongside the Champions League teams.READ MORE SUN STORIESRemember, you can only play each Booster once throughout the season; and each one lasts the duration of just one Gameweek.Read more about Boosters here.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £60 in free bets — HERE*New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 6x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 2 x £10 Bet Builder, 2 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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      Real Madrid forced to ‘urgently close’ training ground stadium due to fungus problem

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      REAL MADRID have been forced to shut down their training ground stadium due to a fungus problem.The closure of Di Stefano stadium will affect the Los Blancos reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla.Real Madrid have been forced to shut down their training ground stadium Di Stefano due to a fungus problemCredit: ReutersThe closure of the stadium will effect Real Madrid’s reserve team Castilla who play their home games at the groundCredit: ReutersCastilla who usually play their home games at the ground were set to host their next home match this Sunday, September 15 against Betis Deportivo.Instead, the reserve team will now play their match on Field 7 in Valdebebas – another pitch at Real Madrid’s extensive training complex.According to Spanish outlet Marca the fungus has “sickened” the pitch to the point where it is unfit for play.To restore the pitch, a treatment is necessary that will temporarily prevent access to the Di Stefano as part of the maintenance process.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe pitch was noticeably in bad condition last Saturday at Castilla’s first home game against Ibiza.Castilla’s next home clash after Betis is not until September 28 when they hope the ground will be ready to use once again.The club has notified its fans about Castilla’s venue change.Due to the limited capacity of Field 7, members who wish to attend must request a free ticket for the Betis match by calling the Member Service Line.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMembers can also request an additional ticket for a companion, provided the companion is also a member. However, ticket offices will distribute tickets on a first-come, first-served basis until they are sold out.Watch Jude Bellingham’s expletive-laden instructions to Mbappe and Co at half-time of Real Madrid drawReal Madrid are also set to face Sporting Club de Portugal in the second round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League at the Di Stefano later this month.THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

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      Brighton star Joel Veltman left ‘amazed’ by Declan Rice’s comments after Arsenal star’s controversial red card

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      BRIGHTON defender Joel Veltman has admitted he felt Declan Rice’s sending off was “quite harsh” and revealed he was “amazed” by the Arsenal man’s reaction.England midfielder Rice, 25, was dismissed with the Gunners leading 1-0 against the Seagulls at the Emirates last month.Joel Veltman has spoken out about Declan Rice’s red cardRice was dismissed for kicking the ball away before Veltman followed through on to his legCredit: GettyRice remonstrated with the dismissal but the Premier League later confirmed it was the correct decisionCredit: ReutersHe was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away as Veltman attempted to take a quick free-kick.The Dutch right-back subsequently missed the ball and took out the Arsenal man, but referee Chris Kavanagh spotted Rice’s discrete gamesmanship and sent him packing.Arsenal went on to draw the game 1-1 as Joao Pedro levelled for the visitors.The Premier League’s “Key Match Incident” team reviewed the red and deemed the decision to be correct.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLYet that has not stopped Veltman from insisting the punishment may have been too severe.Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “For me, it goes really far, with like comments on social media.”We have a new game day coming up, so I don’t want to say a lot about it.”The only thing I can say is that I didn’t want to kick him. It’s just he kicked it away, I kicked him.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMeet North London derby WagsARSENAL travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the North London derby on Sunday.So with that in mind, SunSport has put together a piece looking at 10 of the players’ partners ahead of the game.One Arsenal man is with a woman who had a romance and daughter with Hollywood star Jude Law.Another Gunners player is married to a competitive twerker who goes by the stage name Redheaded.And one Spurs star convinced his partner to move to England from Los Angeles when they got together – before they went on to have three children.Click here to read the full story.”I find it quite harsh as well. If you see my reaction, you can look back, I was not going to the referee to get him a second yellow, I was going to him ‘Why did you kick it? I’m sorry I kicked you’.”Veltman also praised Rice for his comments after the game in which he admitted the laws of the game dictate he had to be sent off.Premier League panel reveal why referee was right to send off Arsenal star Declan Rice against BrightonVeltman added: “I think he gave an amazing comment. I think that’s what personally surprised me about him, how he commented in the media after.”He said like ‘I don’t need to kick it, I need to know better’. That’s an amazing personality, I think, from him.”Rice, who is now suspended for this Sunday’s North London derby, told the club website: “I was shocked, I think you could see in my face I was shocked.”He’s obviously gone over… I’ve not sprinted back in front of him and smashed the ball away.”I’ve touched the ball with the outside of my foot. But look, this is the laws of the game.”If you touch ball away, even a little bit, obviously it’s a red card after my challenge in the first half which I fully accept was a 50-50 that I didn’t win.” More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo appears to bury the hatchet with Gary Neville after two years after awkward Sky Sports snub

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO appears to have buried the hatchet with Gary Neville — two years after his awkward snub live on Sky Sports.Ronaldo and Neville were teammates at Manchester United for six years between 2003 and 2009.Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have buried the hatchet with former Man Utd team-mate Gary NevilleCredit: PAThe pair rowed after Ronaldo snubbed Neville live on TV in 2022During their time together they won three Premier League titles and a Champions League.But their relationship soured after Ronaldo completed a sensational return to United in 2021.At the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Neville urged Ronnie to “stand up now and speak” after the striker promised a bombshell tell-all.The Portugal legend then had a bust-up with new boss Erik ten Hag after being dropped from the starting XI.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd in October 2022, Ronaldo brutally blanked Neville live on Sky Sports ahead of United’s 1-0 win over West Ham.A month later Ronaldo’s Red Devils contract was no more.He spilled the beans on his tempestuous relationship with Ten Hag in a sit-down with The Sun columnist and TalkTV star Piers Morgan.But Ronaldo also let rip at Neville, accusing the former right-back of criticising him to get more fame before declaring the TV pundit was no friend of his.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSNeville came out in defence of Ten Hag as he accused “petulant” Ronaldo of “sulking and stomping.”However, Ronaldo — who now plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr — looks to be over the spat after naming Neville as a Man United legend who the club and Ten Hag would be wise to listen to.Piers Morgan slams ‘complete idiot’ Erik ten Hag in astonishing rant against Man Utd boss about Cristiano RonaldoRonaldo appeared on Rio Ferdinand’s podcastCredit: YouTube/Rio Ferdinand PresentsAppearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, he cited Neville alongside Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson as icons who Sir Jim Ratcliffe should be taking advice from in his attempts to rebuild United.But it could be new assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy who ends up keeping Ten Hag in a job.Ronaldo explained: “If Ten Hag listen to Ruud, maybe he can (help himself). I think it can help a lot because he knows the club and the club should listen (to) the guys who were there. “You [Rio] or Roy Keane or Paul Scholes or Gary Neville, whatever, Sir Alex Ferguson. You cannot, you cannot rebuild a club without knowledge. Not guys who work in office. They understand. Cristiano Ronaldo’s red cardsRonaldo picked up his 12th career red card against Al-HilalAston Villa vs MAN UTD (2004) – Yellow cards for diving and chipping goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen after the whistle had gone.Man City vs MAN UTD (2006) – Straight red card for a high tackle on former United legend Andy Cole, of all people.Portsmouth vs MAN UTD (2007) – Straight red card for headbutting midfielder Richard Hughes.Man City vs MAN UTD (2008) – Yellow card for a cynical foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips, second yellow for a deliberate handball.REAL MADRID vs Almeria (2009) – Ronaldo’s first home red card. One yellow for taking his shirt off to celebrate a goal. A second yellow for aiming a kick at midfielder Juanma Ortiz.REAL MADRID vs Malaga (2010) – Straight red card for a stray elbow which fractured defender Patrick Mtiliga’s nose. Ronaldo said afterwards: “If he wasn’t 5 foot 6, I might have caught him in the chest.”REAL MADRID vs Atletico Madrid (2013) – Ronaldo received a straight red card for a high kick in Atleti captain Gabi’s face as Real lost the Copa del Rey final 2-1 on home soil.Athletic Bilbao vs REAL MADRID (2014) – Straight red card for striking an opponent in the face during a skirmish before a corner.Cordoba vs REAL MADRID (2015) – Straight red card for kicking left-back Edimar and pushing centre-back Jose Angel CrespoBarcelona vs REAL MADRID (2017) – Ronaldo made it a red card in the Manchester derby, Madrid derby and El Clasico in the 2017 Spanish Super Cup. The Portugal star received yellow cards for removing his shirt to celebrate a goal at the Nou Camp and diving. He made matters worse by aiming a slight push at the referee after getting sent off.Valencia vs JUVENTUS (2018) – Controversial red card after defender Jeison Murillo threw himself to the ground as the pair jostled for position.Al-Hilal vs AL-NASSR (2024) – Little doubt about this one as Ronaldo appeared to swing his elbow twice at defender Ali Al-Bulayhi.“The people who understand the football, it was, 99 per cent is the people who were there in the dressing room. They know how to deal with the players. It’s the people who understand these things. “So I believe that Ruud is going to help because he was inside the club. He knows the club. He knows the fans. If the coach listens to him, I think they can improve a little bit the club.”Ronaldo, who scored 27 goals in 54 outings during his second United spell, also used the time to slam Ten Hag’s management style.He added: “As I told you, Manchester, they need to rebuild everything, in my opinion.“The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the League and Champions League.READ MORE SUN STORIES“(As) Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you’re not going to fight to win the League or Champions League. “You have to be, to mentally say, listen, maybe we don’t have that potential, but I cannot say that. We’re going to try. You have to try.” More

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      Tottenham looking to avoid unwanted Premier League record against bitter rivals Arsenal this weekend

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      TOTTENHAM will hope to avoid an unwanted Premier League record against bitter rivals Arsenals this weekend.Spurs will host the Gunners this Sunday but will not want to face another home defeat to Mikel Arteta’s side.Tottenham will hope to avoid an unwanted Premier League record against bitter rivals Arsenals this weekendCredit: The TimesSpurs have scored an own goal on their last three home matches against the GunnersCredit: GettyArsenal are heading to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hoping for their third consecutive victory on their rivals’ turf, in a bid to keep up with league leaders Manchester City and Liverpool.Spurs’ recent 2-1 defeat to Newcastle has added extra pressure to this weekend’s match, as they currently sit tenth in the table after three games.For Ange Postecoglou’s team to return to winning ways, they must overcome an own-goal challenge.Tottenham have scored an own goal in each of their last three Premier League encounters with Arsenal.READ MORE FOOTBALLSo spurs will be eager to avoid breaking that unwanted record as no team has ever conceded four own goals in consecutive matches against the same opponent.In their April match, Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg inadvertently headed a corner into his own net, giving Arsenal the lead in their 3-2 win.This incident came after Cristian Romero scored an own goal in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates last September.Prior to that, former Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris fumbled Bukayo Saka’s cross, turning it into his own net.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAll three own goals have actually stemmed from Saka’s dynamic play on Arsenal’s right wing.Postecoglou will therefore want to make sure his biggest rivals do not get an early advantage and avoid similar mistakes.Arsenal fans raging as ‘smug’ Norway boss ‘cracks joke’ about Martin Odegaard’s devastating injury on live TVArsenal are looking to bounce back in Sunday’s match after a 1-1 draw at home against Brighton last month.Arteta is concerned about the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard, who limped off during Norway’s 2-1 victory over Austria on Monday night.The 25-year-old has returned to London for tests after what seems to be an ankle sprain.The Spaniard will also be without new signing Riccardo Calafiori due to injury, and Declan Rice will miss the short trip due to suspension. More

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      Former Premier League striker sparks mass brawl on pitch after putting ball into empty net for controversial goal

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      CHILE striker Eduardo Vargas scored a controversial goal against Bolivia on Tuesday, sparking a mass brawl on the pitch.Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe suffered an injury while receiving a pass-back from a defender and immediately called for medical assistance.Eduardo Vargas scored a controversial goal for Chile following an injury to Bolivia keeper Carlos LampeCredit: AFPThe striker’s celebrations sparked outrage given the circumstancesCredit: AFPA huge brawl between the two teams broke outCredit: APHowever, the match was not stopped and Vargas quickly made the most of the opportunity.The striker quickly jumped onto the loose ball and passed it into an empty net.Bolivia players were left furious and ran over to Vargas to confront him.It sparked a huge brawl, with several players from both teams getting involved.Read More in FootballLampe was eventually stretchered off and replaced by Guillermo Viscarra.The goalkeeper was later found to have ruptured his Achilles tendon.A statement from the Bolivia camp read: “The operation will be carried out at the MEDS Clinic in Santiago, Chile, at the end of the afternoon on Wednesday, September 11, in order to immediately begin the recovery process.”Vargas’ goal was allowed to stand, but Bolivia went on to win 2-1 against Ricardo Gareca’s side.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe striker once spent a season-long loan spell with Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League.He made 22 appearances for QPR in total and scored three goals.The 25 top-rated footballers in EA FC25Vargas now plays for Atletico Mineiro in Brazil.Meanwhile, Southampton striker Ben Brereton Diaz endured a nightmare during the match after being hauled off in the 34th minute.The 25-year-old was withdrawn early due to his performance, not an injury. More

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      Gareth Southgate drops biggest hint yet over next job amid Man Utd links after stepping down as England manager

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE has no plans to jump straight back into the dugout following his England exit.The 54-year-old resigned from his role as Three Lions boss in July following the nation’s second straight Euros final defeat, a 2-1 loss to Spain.Gareth Southgate resigned from his role as England manager after their Euro 2024 final defeat to SpainCredit: PAThe 54-year-old won’t be rushing back into managementCredit: REXSouthgate has hinted that his next job might not be in footballCredit: RexSouthgate’s success at the England helm has put him on the radar of several clubs.And the former England international is understood to be on Manchester United’s shortlist of candidates to replace Erik ten Hag.But he’s revealed his next job might not even be football-related.He told Sky Sports: “I’ve got lots of opportunities, I’m very open-minded to what’s next.READ MORE ON SOUTHGATE”That might be in football, that might be outside of football. “I’m just going to take some time, refresh, recharge and go from there.”I think at the moment people know that I need to get my energy back.”The FA have yet to appoint a permanent successor for Southgate, who spent eight years in charge of the Three Lions.Most read in FootballLee Carsley will remain in interim charge of the side while FA chiefs continue their search for a new gaffer.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSSouthgate’s England legacy should be celebrated, not torn downBy Tom BarclayGareth Southgate claimed that only winning Sunday’s final would earn England the respect of the footballing world.Spain proved a last-gasp comeback too far in Berlin, but defeat did not change the fact that Southgate’s eight-year transformation put respect back into the world of England football.Critics will pick apart his cautious tactics, his selection choices and his record in the most high-pressurised games – with some legitimacy.Yet what is quickly forgotten is the laughing stock our national side had become before he took over in 2016.A shambolic Euros exit to Iceland that summer had been followed up by Sam Allardyce quitting just one game into his tenure thanks to his pint of wine with undercover reporters.Then came Southgate, with his decency, his humility, his understated eloquence and his vision for a better, different future.He had analysed why England had so often failed in the past, from lack of preparation at penalty shoot-outs to players being bored out of their minds during major tournaments.Southgate took those findings and implemented a culture where players wanted to play for their country again – and it led to back-to-back finals for the first time in our history.Instead of going to war with the media, he opened his doors to them and discovered, shock, horror, that it was met, generally, with support. It did not stop him from being criticised when required – we are no cheerleaders, here – but the vitriol of yesteryear – or today on social media – was largely gone.No manager is perfect and neither was Southgate. We cannot pretend his teams played like those of Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp.But in the fullness of time, his feats will likely be revered because the results speak for themselves.Hopefully his successor can go one step further and bring football home. To do that, they must show respect to what Southgate has created and build on it, rather than rip it down.To read more from Tom Barclay click HERE. Southgate has paid little attention to the noise surrounding his departure, including criticism from pundits like Gary Lineker.He said: “There’s no point in me talking about the team now.’Get him in’ – England fans reveal who they would like to replace Gareth Southgate after Euro defeat”It’s for me to let other people take over, to give them the space to go and take the team on to the next challenges.”There’s no point in me getting involved in anything like that.”Despite ultimately failing to end the nation’s long wait for silverware, Southgate insists he’ll look back at his time in charge of the team with great pride.He said: “We raised expectations and that was important. “We needed to put English football back on the map.”He added: “I think it was probably the right time for change.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I don’t think you can have regrets. “We made decisions with the information we had at the time to try and produce a winning team.” More