Roy Hodgson stands down as England manager minutes after one of the worst defeats in the country’s history
Roy Hodgson stands down as England manager minutes after one of the worst defeats in the country’s history
Roy Hodgson stood down as England manager just minutes after presiding over the worst result in the country’s football history.
England were knocked out of Euro 2016 by Iceland, a country with a population of just 330,000, at the last-16 stage in Nice on Monday night.
Goals from Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson completed England’s humiliation and prompted Hodgson to stand down before the Football Association could confirm that his contract would not be renewed.
Hodgson was the highest-earning manager at the tournament, on £3.5million-a-year, but only managed a victory over Wales and failed to beat Russia, Slovakia and Iceland.
“The transition from the squad whose average age was 30 to now being the youngest in the tournament is both remarkable and exciting for the future of English football.
“I would have loved to stay on for another two years. However, I am pragmatic and I know we are in the results business. My contract was always up after the Euros, so now is the time for someone else to oversee the progress of this young, hungry and extremely talented group of players.
“They have been fantastic and have done everything that has been asked of them. When I arrived I was told players didn't turn up to play for their country or that they pulled out at the last minute. I have not seen any of that. These players love to play for their country and their commitment has been unquestioned.
“Ray and Gary arrived with me as part of my coaching team and will leave with me. I'd like to thank them for their dedicated support and for the major part they've played in our team preparation.
“I’d like to thank all the support staff, players, the FA and of course the fans. It's been a fantastic journey, these four years, and it's one I'll look back on and remember with pride.
“Finally I'd like to thank the media for the support you've given me over the four years. I'm sorry it's had to end this way with another exit from the tournament. These things happen. All I can do is wish everybody all the very best and hope that you will still be able to see an England team in a final of a major tournament fairly soon. We've been unable to deliver. Thank you very much.”
Captain Wayne Rooney revealed Hodgson told the players of his decision to stand down in the dressing room after the final whistle and insisted he will not retire from international duty.
“He told all the players after the game and went around and thanked all the players,” said Rooney. “As a group of players we appreciate what he’s done for us, he has given a lot of players their England debuts and you can’t forget that. It is hard to see it now but the future is bright.”
Asked whether he will continue playing for England, Rooney added: “Of course, I’ve said before the tournament and I’ve been asked many times but I’m proud to play for England and I’ll see who the next manager is and if selected I’m available to play.
“Of course, the players are the ones on the pitch and you can’t just say it is Roy Hodgson’s fault or one player’s fault. We are all in it together and we all have to share that responsibility.
“It is a difficult time for us, we are all disappointed, we tried and kept probing but we just couldn’t get that goal. We’re gutted. It is a hard one to take, it is embarrassing.
“It’s been six tournaments we have gone out of. At the moment, I’m gutted, but I can’t separate from the other times. It is hard to take, there is disappointment but I’d like to thank the fans as they were brilliant. It will be tough for them after the game and we feel like we’ve let them down but we would like to thank them.”
Hodgson refused to take any questions, but the FA quickly released a statement that said: “Like the nation, we are disappointed to lose this evening and that our run in Euro 2016 has come to a premature end.
“We had high hopes of progressing through to the latter stages of the competition and accept that we have not met our own expectations or those of the country.
“We back Roy Hodgson’s decision to step down as England manager and will discuss next steps imminently.
“For now, we congratulate Iceland for reaching the quarter final and wish them well against France at the weekend. Finally, our sincere thanks go to the travelling fans for their incredible support tonight and to everyone back home for getting behind the team.”
The England fans inside the Stade de Nice showed their disgust at the result and loudly booed the players, some of whom were tearful at the final whistle.
Roy Hodgson's resignation | The full statement
I'm extremely disappointed, of course, about tonight's result and ultimately our exit from the competition.
We haven't progressed as far as I thought we were capable of, and that's obviously not acceptable.
I am actually proud of the work that my coaching staff and I have achieved in our time at the helm with England.
The transition from a squad whose average was 30 to now being the youngest in the tournament is both remarkable and exciting for the future of English football.
I would have loved to stay on for another two years, however I am pragmatic and know that we are in the results business.
My contract was always up after the Euros so now is the time for someone else to oversee the progress of this young, hungry and extremely talented group of players.
They've been fantastic and they have done everything that has been asked of them.
When I arrived I was told that players didn't turn up to play for their country or that they pull out at the last minute. But I have not seen any of that.
These players love to play for their country and their commitment has been unquestioned.
Ray and Gary have asked me to speak on their behalf. They arrived with me as part of my coaching team and they'll leave with me.
I'd like to thank them for their dedicated support and for the major part they've played in our team preparation.
Finally I'd like to thank all the support staff, players, the FA and of course the fans.
It's been a fantastic journey these four years and it's one I'll look back on or remember with pride.
Finally I'd like to thank you, the media, for the support that you've given me over the four years.
I am sorry it's had to end this way with another exit from the tournament but these things happen and all I can do is wish everybody all the very best and hope that you will still be able to see an England team in a final of a major tournament fairly soon.
We've been unable to deliver. Thank you very much.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was at fault for Sigthorsson’s winning goal, said: “As a group it is down to us. All the plans are put in place, we knew everything about Iceland but ultimately we didn't perform. Personally I didn't perform. I apologise to the fans, that's a shot I should save and it's my fault we are out.
“It's not a question of wanting it, there’s nothing we want more. They are just words, though. We were in a good place, but we haven’t done it. We will get a lot of flak and we deserve it. We will learn from this and try and bring English football back to where it belongs. We have put it in a low place.
“We just couldn't find a way back into the game. The next manager has a tough job on his hands. We worked hard, but with no success. That is how this team will be remembered.”