Gareth Southgate was a player for Aston Villa for six years and was part of the team that added a year to their list of accomplishments. However, despite his image being displayed on the big screen at Villa Park during the match against Manchester United in February, he was met with booing from the crowd. Villa supporters are known for being unpredictable and inconsistent in their reactions. They felt ignored because Southgate had not included Ollie Watkins or Ezri Konsa in England’s last squad gathering. Southgate has led England to a semi-final and quarter-final in the World Cup, as well as to the final of the European Championship. A play dedicated to Southgate, titled Dear England, is still going strong as it makes its way back to the National Theatre. Southgate is not considered a national treasure, but if Unai Emery were to leave Aston Villa for a bigger club, fans would not welcome Southgate’s return. The fans of other Premier League clubs would also feel the same way. United is on the verge of completing the signing of a youth international player from Scotland. Four players from Crystal Palace, where Southgate used to coach, are included in England’s squad for the European Championship.
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