England fans told they will regret role in Gareth Southgate exit as Three Lions goalkeeper Tom Heaton opens up on ‘getting booed’ en route to Euro 2024 final

Tom Heaton was a training goalkeeper for England at Euro 2024, and he has warned fans that they will regret their role in Gareth Southgate’s exit.

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Euro 2024 saw Southgate receive a lot of flak from fans who went as far as throwing beer cups at the 53-year-old when he walked over to applaud their support. Heaton, who played a unique role for Southgate, believes that these moments played a part in creating a negative atmosphere in the camp and led to Southgate stepping down.

  WHAT HEATON SAID

  When speaking to The Daily Mail, Heaton was asked if fans would regret their treatment of Southgate, he said: “I really do. If you think back to the track record, I think he’s changed the feel and expectation of it. We were all sort of excited to watch the games. We were performing well. So I think now that the door has sort of shut on it in that way, I think we will come back to go ‘incredible job’.

  “It’s very rare in football you get a squad of players, the ones who aren’t playing, every single person there wants to win it for the manager. He is a leader you want to follow. You want to go win it for him because of what he’s done. I was involved from the start of that tenure when it changed over from Big Sam (Allardyce) to him in the first couple of years, and since that point, it always felt really, really positive. And I think that first game (against Serbia at the Euros), it felt different. It felt like the narrative had changed.

  “Getting booed in each half, pretty much every half all the way to the semi-final, it’s not easy. I don’t know, of course, but I imagine that probably took its toll on him. That sort of guy who would only be wanting the optimism to try and win it, giving everything he’s got for it. So I didn’t know.

  “I suppose I was caught a little bit by surprise (by Southgate’s decision), but when I thought back and reflected, I could maybe see it from his point of view. He’s his own man in terms of what he wants. The preparation in these tournaments, the level of detail that goes into it, it’s intense. He probably needs a bit of a break. But I would imagine it would be on his mind to get back into it (club football).”

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Heaton was a surprise call-up in Southgate’s 26-man squad for Euro 2024. The 38-year-old has himself claimed that his inclusion was as ‘a little bit of a mentor and senior player, a bit of a bridge between the coaching staff.’

  • WHAT NEXT FOR HEATON?

    Heaton is still under contract with Manchester United after signing a new one-year deal despite his lack of opportunities. It is unlikely that he will receive a lot of playing time under Erik ten Hag, however, he hopes to impress the team nonetheless. He said: “I had a couple of discussions with a few other people, but to be true to myself, it didn’t feel right. The gut didn’t feel right. I’ve still got a big hunger to play.

    “Admittedly I was a little frustrated last year at the lack of playing opportunities. Me and the manager had quite a few conversations about it, but that’s football.

    “I also know I’m getting older but I still think I can deliver when I need to, and I’ll be trying to show him that in the next few weeks.”

    Source goal.com