Hodgson resigns following Euro 2016 exit

Roy Hodgson has resigned as England manager following his side’s humiliating Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland on Monday.

Hodgson’s contract was due to expire at the conclusion of the finals and the shock 2-1 defeat in the second round in Nice prompted the 68-year-old to announce his departure.

“I’m going to read a statement, so I will not be misquoted,” he said in the post-match media conference.

“I am extremely disappointed about the result and our exit. We haven’t progressed as far as we were capable of and that’s unacceptable.

“We were the youngest team, which is both exciting and remarkable. I am pragmatic. My contract was up after the Euros and that is it. I will not continue.

“My staff joined with me and they will leave with me. I would like to thank all the support staff, the fans, the players. It has been a fantastic journey and I look back at it with pride.

“I am sorry to exit in this way, but that is the way things happen. I still hope we will see an England team in the final of a major tournament in the near future.”

After reading the statement, Hodgson immediately left the news conference and there were no further questions.

Shortly after Hodgson’s resignation, the Football Association published the following statement: “Like the nation, we are disappointed to lose this evening and that our run in Euro 2016 has come to a premature end.

“We had high hopes of progressing through to the latter stages of the competition and accept that we have not met our own expectations or those of the country.

“We back Roy Hodgson’s decision to step down as England manager and will discuss next steps imminently.  

“For now, we congratulate Iceland for reaching the quarter-final and wish them well against France at the weekend.

“Finally, our sincere thanks go to the travelling fans for their incredible support tonight and to everyone back home for getting behind the team.”

Things began brightly for England with Wayne Rooney’s fourth-minute penalty, but goals from Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson hastened the exits of both the team and then the manager.

Gareth Southgate, manager of England’s Under-21 side, is the early front-runner to replace Hodgson, with Eddie Howe and Alan Pardew also among the contenders, according to bookmakers.

Gary Neville is heavily fancied, although Hodgson confirmed the former Manchester United defender would also be leaving his post, along with Ray Lewington.