Hope ends in heartbreak once again

ENGLISH football endured yet another near miss on the field this year while, off it, some of its most high-profile managers moved on.

Hopes had been high ahead of Euro 2024 that England, with a squad bursting with talent, could finally land their first tournament success since 1966.

Once again it was not to be as Gareth Southgate's side fell at the final hurdle, losing to worthy champions Spain 2-1 in the showpiece in Berlin.

It was a second successive Euros final loss for the national team but, in truth, it was a patchy campaign that started with a dull group stage.

They progressed further with a last-gasp fightback against Slovakia, a penalty shoot-out triumph over Switzerland and a 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands, before a reinvigorated Spanish side proved too good.

It proved the end of the road for Southgate after eight years at the helm, but he could leave with his head held high having also overseen a run to a World Cup semi-final during his tenure.

German Thomas Tuchel was named as his replacement but does not take over until the new year.

Southgate was not the only manager to choose his exit as, on the domestic scene, Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool and Emma Hayes stood down at Chelsea.