Gareth Southgate will NOT wear his iconic waistcoat for Euro 2020

New look, Gareth? Southgate reveals he will NOT bring back his iconic waistcoat for England’s Euro 2020 campaign… two years after his dress sense became huge talking point during the 2018 World Cup in Russia

  • Gareth Southgate says he will not wear a waistcoat at Euro 2020 this summer
  • The England boss’ dress sense was a talking point during the 2018 World Cup
  • So much so that Marks & Spencer saw a 35 per cent increase in waistcoat sales
  • However, Southgate has revealed that the ensemble won’t be making a return
  • Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here.

England boss Gareth Southgate has revealed that his iconic waistcoat will not be making a return for this summer’s Euro 2020 campaign.

Southgate sported the formal item of clothing during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he guided the Three Lions to the semi-finals.

The 50-year-old’s dress sense became a huge talking point among England fans during the tournament, with shops like Marks & Spencer reporting a 35 per cent increase in waistcoat sales as a result.


Gareth Southgate says his iconic waistcoat will not be making a return for Euro 2020

The phenomenon was labelled as ‘the Gareth Southgate effect’ and the feel-good feeling he brought to the nation – which saw England come agonisingly close to reaching a World Cup final – has stayed with the team ever since.

But with another major tournament just around the corner, Southgate revealed on Thursday that he won’t be donning the familiar look on the touchline next month.

Southgate told BBC Radio 4 Today: ‘It was a lovely moment to have that connection with the public. I haven’t worn a waistcoat on its own since… I don’t think I’ll be wearing a waistcoat this summer.’  

Southgate sported the formal item of clothing during the 2018 World Cup in Russia

However, while he ‘loved the connection with the fans’, he won’t be wearing one again

Southgate announced his provisional 33-man squad for the Euros earlier this week, which saw him recall Trent Alexander-Arnold and three other right backs in his squad. 

The 22-year-old was dropped for World Cup qualifiers in March but has been brought back into an extended squad that will be trimmed to 26 players ahead of the June 11-July 11 tournament.

Asked by reporters on Tuesday if Alexander-Arnold could play in midfield, Southgate said: ‘I think there’s no doubt he could.

‘The difficulty is he hasn’t had the opportunity to do that since he was a younger player and that’s where he came through in Liverpool’s academy.

Fans went crazy for the fashion trend, with supporters wearing waistcoats for everyday tasks 

People’s pets also got involved in the #waistcoatwednesday frenzy during the 2018 World Cup

Among those to get into the spirit were Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid (pictured) on ITV

England fans up and down the country donned waistcoats as they paid homage to Southgate 

‘He’s a fantastic passer of the ball and has great passing vision. So he’s a playmaker from right back… So why wouldn’t that lend itself at some point of his career to being in midfield?’

Southgate also included Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire, who is struggling with an ankle injury that forced him to miss the Red Devils’ Europa League defeat by Villarreal on Wednesday.

The England manager said he had little information about the fitness of the defender, who missed training on Tuesday.

‘We had an initial assessment on Maguire, which was positive in terms of the tournament, but there was always a little bit more swelling and further investigation needed,’ he added.

Southgate has brought Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) back into the England fold this month

The England boss announced his provisional 33-man squad for the Euros earlier this week

‘When you’ve got a European final and information for the opposition is so tight, and things do leak, I understand why clubs want to keep their cards close to their chest.

‘It’s made it a bit more difficult for us but I don’t have a problem with United… We’ve got some injuries that are at various stages, (with) a couple that we have very little information about at the moment.’

England play friendlies against Austria and Romania in June before their Euro 2020 Group D campaign begins with matches against Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic.




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