Former England striker Andy Cole says he fears for the next England manager and believes that some of the criticism of Gareth Southgate during Euro 2024 was unfair.

Southgate ended his eight-year tenure as England boss on Tuesday, two days after his side had lost 2-1 to Spain in the final in Berlin.

The 53-year-old came in for heavy criticism from England fans and pundits following a series of disappointing displays, but Cole has defended Southgate’s record as head coach.

Former Newcastle and Manchester United number nine Cole told the PA news agency: “I don’t think a lot of the criticism has been fair.

“We can always have a go at the manager and say, ‘he’s this and he’s that’, but he’s been the most successful manager in 58 years, so he can’t be that bad.

“I didn’t expect him to go. For me, if he had stayed, it would have made no difference.

“But he’s very hurt by what’s happened.

“Whoever gets the job now, I wish them all the best because they’re going to have to be a (Manchester City boss Pep) Guardiola.

“Whoever it is will take 100 per cent flak for picking the wrong team or the wrong players.”

Cole, who won 15 caps for England between 1995-2001 and scored 121 goals in 275 appearances for United in all competitions, believes England’s players should shoulder responsibility for their below-par performances.

“If England were good enough to win the Euros, they would have won it. Yes or no?” he said.

“The team who won it won seven games out of seven, so does that not say they are the best team?

“We can say, ‘oh, it’s Gareth’s fault, that player’s fault, or whatever’. Gareth might set his team up to play a certain way.

“But once you cross the white line, players and individuals have to do what they need to do to win a football match.”

Since England’s shocking exit at Euro 2016 after defeat to Iceland, Southgate completely transformed the national team’s fortunes, while his detractors will point to the talent at his disposal.

Cole added: “What more could have been asked of Gareth? Whoever takes his place – I wish them all the best because they have to do better than what Gareth did and that isn’t going to be easy.”

Cole was speaking to promote United’s ‘legends match’ in September against Celtic at Old Trafford in aid of the Manchester United Foundation.

Bryan Robson will take charge of a United XI made up of former stars, with Cole as his assistant, while last year’s ‘legends’ clash with Liverpool raised £1.3million for the Foundation’s work with young people.

“It’s certainly something special and it’s nice to give something back,” Cole added. “I think the fans’ support for the ‘legends’ games is unbelievable.”

:: Tickets for the Manchester United Legends v Celtic Legends match on September 7 are available from tickets.manutd.com