Sir Gareth Southgate has expressed his concern that “callous, manipulative and toxic influencers” are taking the place of traditional father figures in society and contributing to mental health issues among young men.
The former England manager also questioned whether “winning a trophy is the only marker of success” after losing in successive European Championship finals, as he delivered the prestigious Richard Dimbleby Lecture on Tuesday.
Southgate followed in the footsteps of an illustrious group of academics, artists, entrepreneurs, and members of the royal family who have delivered the annual lecture since its inception in 1972, in memory of the veteran broadcaster who died in 1965. Entitled The Beautiful Game: Building Belief and Resilience in a Younger Generation, he began by going back to his missed penalty in the shootout against Germany at Euro 96 and explained how it became a turning point in his life. Southgate then talks about how he has spent the past few months visiting community centres, schools and “even a prison” as he attempts to find out more about what he calls “the unrelenting impact of social media”.
“There’s one topic that keeps being brought to my attention. And it’s parents who keep raising it,” Southgate said. “Young men are suffering. They are feeling isolated. They’re grappling with their masculinity and with their broader place in society.”
He believes the decline in communities and a lack of mentors – or “father figures” – are causing more young men to become reluctant to talk or express their emotions.
“They spend more time online searching for direction and are falling into unhealthy alternatives like gaming, gambling and pornography,” Southgate said.
“And this void is filled by a new kind of role model who do not have their best interest at heart. These are callous, manipulative and toxic influencers, whose sole drive is for their own gain. They willingly trick young men into believing that success is measured by money or dominance, never showing emotion, and that the world – including women – is against them. They are as far away as you could possibly get from the role models our young men need in their lives.”
Southgate, who left his post with England after the defeat by Spain in the final of Euro 2024, has called on society to help create more leaders that can “set the right tone”. He referred to Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson – the latter who was surprisingly recalled by Thomas Tuchel for his first England squad last week – as players who helped to instil new pride in the national team.
“They were role models I wanted others to emulate,” he said. “And over time, we created a culture where players were encouraged to take ownership where young players were welcomed, not treated as outsiders and where mistakes weren’t ridiculed, but were seen as part of a process. And so it is in society.
“We need leaders to set the right tone. To be the role models we want for our young men. 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.”
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Southgate also argued that winning silverware is only one measure of achievement in sport. “If I’ve learned anything from my life in football, it’s that success is about much more than the final score. It isn’t a straight line. And it’s not a single moment,” he said.
“Not everyone will win trophies. Not everyone will be at the top of their field. But everyone can live a life where they can constantly strive to improve. Where they can look back and say: ‘I gave my best, I stayed true to myself, and I made a difference.’ That is real success.”
The Richard Dimbleby Lecture with Sir Gareth Southgate is available now on BBC iPlayer and on BBC One at 10.40pm on Wednesday
Source: theguardian.com
