England Manager Roy Hodgson Resigns After 2-1 Euro 2016 Loss To Iceland, Accepts Full Responsibility

Roy Hodgson resigned as manager of England on Tuesday after his team suffered a shocking 2-1 loss to Iceland in the last-16 stage of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament Monday.

England Manager Roy Hodgson Resigns After 2-1 Euro 2016 Loss To Iceland

The 68-year-old had been in charge for four years after replacing Italian Fabio Capello but has won only three of 11 games in major tournament finals.

“I don’t really know what I’m doing here,” Hodgson said at a news conference called by England’s Football Association. “But I was told that it was important for everybody that I appear and I guess that is partly because people are still smarting from our poor performance.”

“I suppose someone has to stand and take the slings and arrows,” he added.

Iceland was among the lowest-ranked teams in France at 34 in the world.

Hodgson, who won 33 of his 56 games as England boss, would have been out of contract at the end of the tournament. He added in the news conference that he never got the impression the English players had lost faith in him.

The former Liverpool and West Brom manager was due to discuss a possible contract renewal but Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said he would only stay on if England “do well” in France.

In a statement released shortly following Hodgson’s resignation, the FA said:

“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.”

England began Euro 2016 with a 1-1 tie against Russia before defeating Wales 2-1 and drawing 0-0 with Slovakia in their final group B game. They ended up in second place in their group.

Hodgson was heavily criticized after the Slovakia game for making six changes to the team that had beaten Wales.

Under Hodgson’s guidance, England had reached the quarter-finals of the last European Championship, losing to Italy on penalties, before a dismal showing at the 2014 World Cup.

They went out at the group stages without winning a game.

Hodgson confirmed to reporters following Monday’s loss that assistants Ray Lewington and Gary Neville would also leave their posts.

BBC Match of the Day pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer said of the Iceland defeat: “That was the worst performance I’ve ever seen from an England team. Ever.

“We were out-fought, out-thought, out-battled and totally hopeless for 90 minutes. It looked to me like Roy was making it up as he was going along.”

Captain Wayne Rooney insisted tactics did not play a part in England’s loss.

“I can’t stand here and say exactly why it’s happened,” said the striker. “There are always upsets in football. It’s not tactics. It’s just unfortunate.

“We know we’re a good team. It’s a sad day for us. It’s tough.”

Asked about his own international future, Rooney said: “I’m still available.”

The latest odds have England Under-21 boss and former Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate as favorite to succeed Hodgson.

PHOTO: SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – MAY 27: England manager Roy Hodgson looks on ahead of the International Friendly match between England and Australia at Stadium of Light on May 27, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena