Sir Gareth Southgate delivered this year’s Dimbleby Lecture, where he spoke bluntly about his fears for young men and the troubling influence of online personalities on their development. Newly knighted, the former England manager spoke openly about experiences that shaped his own upbringing.

Southgate is extremely concerned about young men being misled by what he describes as ‘toxic influencers.’ He believes a significant number of these men are spending excessive amounts of time gambling, gaming, and consuming inappropriate content online. He emphasized the urgent need for better role models who can guide these men away from harmful online influences.

In 1996, Gareth famously missed a crucial penalty during England’s Euro 96 semi-final against Germany. This moment, though painful, shaped him into a stronger individual. He said, “That pain still haunts me today, and I guess it always will.” This event empowered him, teaching invaluable lessons about resilience, belief in oneself, and overworking challenges.

Today, 22 years since the Euro 96 semi-final, Southgate sees a different mindset among England’s players. He credits this transformation to a more resilient, confident, and winning attitude within the team. The change is evident from how players approach key moments—Eric Dier’s successful penalty against Colombia in 2018 exemplifies this newfound confidence.

Strengthening resilience and building identity are essential aspects of mental and emotional well-being, especially among young men.

According to Masters in psychology documents, early resilience training equips young boys to face life’s challenges more adeptly as they grow into teenagers. Furthermore, having strong mentors like parents, teachers, or coaches could help build a supportive community for young men to grow into resilient adults.

Following the trend, Sir Gareth emphasizes that more boys and young men are gaining experience and opportunities in clubs. At Crystal Palace, where they played, they already had a good track record bringing up young men. They have a multi-spor soccer ornamental in town, fostered by ex-professionals working to bring significant changes.

Southgate’s professional career spans roles at Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Middlesbrough, culminating in a stint as a player in the England squad from 1995 to 2004. As a manager, he took over the reins of the English team in 2016, leading noteworthy achievements such as the 2018 World Cup semi-final, 2022 World Cup quarter-final, and the Euro finals of 2020 and 2024. In December, he retired, stepping down as manager in July 2022. He was knighted in the King’s New Year Honours.

During his address, Sir Gareth highlighted that young men are gradually losing their connection to social structures and communities. The robust and interconnected social fabric that previously offered a sense of belonging and guidance is, in his view, unraveling. The internet offers a plethora of content, but young men are often left to navigate this vast, uncharted territory alone, lacking the pioneering local communities that could guide them.

Young men, fearing failure, often become hesitant to engage in new ventures, wary of the potential for errors and missteps that come with trying and failing. Previously, young lads learning football were more frequently guided beyond the field and by trusted individuals as they navigated their lads.