Sports psychologist Michael Caulfield, who has previously worked alongside Gareth Southgate, has said that Southgate walked away from the job as the Three Lions because he would have felt it was the right thing to do.

“He’s had criticism for about 35 years and he’s particularly good at handling that criticism. I’ve always called him the Prime Minister of football and the next England coach will be the Prime Minister of football. He’s outlasted five Prime Minister because he’s an outstanding leader. And an outstanding person in every way,” Caufield told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“But for him, the time is right.

“I’m sure he got pushback but he knew it was the right thing to do. He is a very proud Englishman and it was his greatest honour to manage and play for his country. Whatever pushback he got it rallied against it because he knew it was the right thing to do.

“We knew deep down we trusted him as a person and a leader. Never mind holding your head high he can walk tall for the rest of his life.

“His way of handling things is with a dignified approach. One of his heroes was Bobby Robson and he wanted to approach everything with dignity and even leave with dignity and he’s done that.

“You could see that on Sunday that was just enough.

“If England ever go on to win a major trophy you can trace it back to Gareth’s time and Trevor Brooking who put the plans in place when it clearly wasn’t working.”