'What it meant to the country' - Gareth Southgate reveals Harry Kane-inspired victory was favourite moment as England manager in candid interview six months after resigning from job

Southgate left the post of head coach of the England national team in July following the Three Lions’ loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. While the 54-year-old failed to win a single major tournament with England, he went down as the most successful Three Lions coach since Sir Alf Ramsey.

Southgate took over as England coach following a difficult period for the national team, but led the Three Lions to a number of key achievements including two straight Euros finals and deep runs at two World Cups. He has now named his favourite moment as manager, citing their 2-1 victory against Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, during which Harry Kane scored the winner in extra-time.

Speaking to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Southgate said: "My favourite moment as England boss? Definitely, beating Denmark in the semi-final at Wembley.

"I mean, both semi-finals that we won were dramatic games – Holland in the last Euros, Denmark in the previous one – but just that feeling and that understanding that this was going to be the first final for 55 years, and that we were creating another bit of history in our journey as a team.

"And just to see what it meant to people, what it meant to the country. Not only in the stadium that night but the days that followed, leading into the final and the journey to the stadium of the final, where we were just coming out of that Covid period but the streets were lined with people all the way from Watford, where we were staying, where I was born, right the way to Wembley. An amazing thing to experience."

The 54-year-old was linked with a move to Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s departure earlier this year, but has since confirmed that he does not plan to return to the coaching scene at least the end of the season as he fulfils his role as a technical observer for UEFA.