Gareth Southgate | Innovator 25 EMEA 2021
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Gareth Southgate

Manager

England National Men’s Football Team

UK

Gareth Southgate may be one of the greatest natural communicators of our era not just in sport, but in any field. All the way to the final match of the Euros tournament, Southgate and his England team brought hope, in a time of Covid- and Brexit-driven uncertainty and despair, and this was in no short measure down to the manager’s communications and media relations skills as well as the talent on the pitch. Articulate and principled, Southgate managed expectations and communicated calmly, clearly and humbly in a campaign that reinvigorated the Three Lions brand and dramatically improved the sport’s reputation. Speaking and writing with quiet passion, he demonstrated the pillars of exceptional modern leadership – authenticity, respect and empathy – in spades, including backing his players in taking the knee in his heartfelt open letter. In a country that has felt divided and somewhat rudderless for some time, for a few short weeks this summer, England had the leadership it needed.