Staying true, giving your best.. that is real success

On young men, role models and the perils of toxic social media

- NICOLA METHVEN

FOR eight years, he was a father figure to the England men's football team-more than a manager, more than a coach. A role model.

Now Sir Gareth Southgate says more young men in today's society need someone to look up to.

He felt like he let the nation down when he missed a penalty in Euro 96, but showed resilience and strength to lead the Three Lions to two major finals - more than any other manager.

And he thinks these are the values we should be instilling in boys today, instead of leaving them easy prey to toxic influencers on social media.

Giving the annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture for the BBC, he said: "We have to show young men that character is more important than status. That how you treat others is more important than how much money you make.

CULTURE

"That values matter courage, humility, and integrity over selfishness, greed, arrogance. The culture we create today will shape the kind of men that we inherit tomorrow. We all have the power to create that culture."

Citing the examples of Harry Kane, who was released by Arsenal as a youth, and Bukayo Saka, who overcame his penalty anguish from Euro 2020, Sir Gareth said success was all about responding to the hardest moments.