The definitive, behind-the-scenes account of England's journey from no-hopers to genuine contenders
Under the stewardship of Gareth Southgate and captained by Harry Kane, England will arrive in Germany as favourites to win Euro 2024 and finally end all those trophy-less years of hurt. It's taken for granted that England are now considered serious challengers at major football tournaments but prior to Southgate, this wasn't the case. 'Golden generations' came and went, with club rivalries and big egos ensuring that England camps had a fractured, toxic atmosphere where performances on the pitch paled in comparison to their club successes. So, how did we get here?
Dear England: The Real Story of the Three Lions Rebirth delves into Southgate's turbulent journey to being hired as England manager, to his emergence as a waistcoated cult figure and becoming the country's most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey. Award-winning football writers Jonathan Northcroft and Rob Draper have had extraordinary access to the England team during Southgate's tenure and take us behind the scenes as they exclusively interview key backroom staff and players, including Dan Ashworth, Jesse Lingard, Martin Glenn and Steve Cooper, along with previous discussions with the likes of Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Danny Rose, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and many more, to give the complete account of the highs and lows of Southgate's reign and the sea change that took place throughout the entire England set up.
For the first time, this is the real story of England's evolution both on and off the pitch and how Southgate transformed a failing corporate culture and empowered young people to write their own history.