Gareth Southgate delivered a heartfelt tribute to his longtime assistant, Steve Holland, on the eve of the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Their professional relationship began when Southgate encountered Holland during his time in youth development at the FA, while Holland served as an assistant to André Villas-Boas at Chelsea.
Impressed by Holland’s methods and innovation, Southgate invited him to join as assistant coach for the England U-21 team in 2013, allowing him to continue his role at Chelsea, thus marking the beginning of their enduring partnership.
Together with the England senior team, they have achieved notable milestones, including two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final.
Despite their shared football philosophies, they bring distinct styles and personalities to their roles: Holland tends to be more vocal with players, while Southgate adopts a more measured approach.
This combination has proven effective in motivating players to perform at their best.
“Firstly, I could not do it without him,” Southgate told reporters. “He is a fantastic balance for me. His strengths eat up my weaknesses. He is so meticulous in his preparation.
“We have grown so close. The trust between us is immense and I could not have anybody better alongside me. He has won the Champions League, he has won the Premier League, everything.
He is a proud Englishman like me and there is one medal missing. We have brilliant staff right across the board but clearly, our relationship is really, really strong.”
On Sunday, Southgate and Holland aim for European championship glory, relying on their combined strengths and strategic insights to guide the Three Lions to victory over Spain in Berlin.
Their previous disappointment at Wembley three years ago surely offered valuable lessons, which they now intend to leverage against Luis De La Fuente’s side.