I was Gareth Southgate’s best man at his wedding and also a football manager… he is England’s greatest ever boss

ANDY WOODMAN will cheer on best mate Gareth Southgate from his sofa on Sunday — and says the England boss deserves the nation’s full support.

The pair have been friends since they were 14-year-old youth players at Crystal Palace, and former keeper Woodman was Southgate’s best man at his wedding in 1997.

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And the Bromley boss, who has just led them into the EFL for the first time, is baffled by critics who have lined up to take shots at  his pal this summer.

Woodman, 52, said: “The criticism has been disgusting.

“When I see the ex-team-mates, pundits and journalists Gareth knows well — and he’s given them access to him and the team —  suddenly saying things for clickbait or for their own agendas, that’s not right.

“He’s the most successful manager in England’s history. We know Sir Alf Ramsey won a trophy — and Gareth hasn’t yet — but back-to-back Euro finals and a World Cup semi is still phenomenal.

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“People forget the national team was previously so detached from the country, it was horrific.

“We had years where we were so disconnected, but now have a team we’re proud of and manager we should be proud of.

“Gareth is patriotic and gets it — and yet people want to criticise.

“One or two TV pundits should be looking back at what they’ve said and be ashamed of themselves.

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“In one breath their criticism surprises me – but in the second I look at them and think, ‘none of you have managed’ so they’re speaking about something they don’t really know.

"These ex-players were in an era that’s different to now, the game has changed.”

Woodman, father of Preston goalie Freddie, believes Southgate will be more hurt by the effect the flak has had on family and friends. 

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Southgate is also Freddie’s godfather.

Woodman said: “Gareth will be more worried about that and want to protect them.

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“He’s got a wife, two lovely children and parents that followed him all over the world in his career.

“People need to seriously think about that when they say hurtful and personal things about Gareth, including the idiots on social media.

“He’s a man who creates a culture of love, care and respect, not one where people say nasty things about one another. We’re all trying our best. 

“If it’s not good enough, we don’t need to be nasty about it or destructive.

“When I lose a game, I only have a quarter of Bromley on my back, Gareth has the whole nation.”

Ahead of Sunday’s Euros final showdown with Spain, Woodman says Southgate has taken the fear out of playing for England. 

And those dramatic magic moments like Jude Bellingham’s late wonder goal that saved the team from being knocked out by Slovakia is no fluke – neither was the penalty shootout against Switzerland.

He said: “Gareth has made these boys want to play for him and without fear. In some of the recent games, if fear had taken over, we’d have lost and been out. 

“These boys have gone the other way, they’ve been in bad situations, and run through a brick wall to get the win or the result in the dying seconds. That tells you everything about the players playing for the manager.

“You don’t get a Jude Bellingham goal like the one he got if your team isn’t pushing everything for the manager.

Woodman believes Southgate’s human qualities are his greatest asset – and that is why footballers like playing for him.

And he will forever remember his friend’s selflessness in helping him secure a move to Exeter after his release from Crystal Palace in 1994.

The ex-keeper said: “Gareth was Palace captain and they’d just won promotion to the Premier League. I had been given a free transfer and got a trial at Exeter. 

“Everybody else was off on their holidays celebrating but Gareth came in all that week after the season finished and worked with me so I was ready for my trial. 

“That tells you the measure of the man and the depth of the friendship where someone is trying to help you do well. That’s the mark of a true friend.”

England beat Serbia and drew with Denmark and Slovenia in the group before needing extra-time to see off Slovakia and penalties to beat Switzerland before producing a superb performance to beat Holland to set up tonight’s final against Spain.

And Woodman insists international football is far harder than it once was.

He said: “If a team sticks everyone behind the ball, it’s so hard to get through and break them down. You’re not going to win 5-0 or 6-0. If you get an early goal, you might but it’s still hard. Teams are clever, they’re international players that know how to cancel games out and hopefully get one moment. 

“Slovenia, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland or whoever, they’re not idiots and a lot of these boys play at top European clubs. 

“Many of these nations have evolved and are better than they once were because of improved coaching methods and top managers travelling far and wide.”

Woodman has been in regular contact with his friend throughout the tournament and contemplated jumping on a plane to be in Berlin tonight – but decided to watch in the comfort of his own home with family instead.

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And if Southgate does lead England to an historic Euro triumph, his friend believes King Charles should give him a knighthood.

Woodman laughed: “He gets my blessing but we’ll have to establish some rules because it’s going to kill me to have to say, ‘Pass the salt and pepper, Sir Gareth!’” 

England vs Spain record

England have played Spain 27 times in total - here is a look at every result...

• May 1929, Spain 4-3 England - International Friendly (L)
• December 1931, England 7-1 Spain - International Friendly (W)
• July 1950, Spain 1-0 England - World Cup (L)
• May 1955, Spain 1-1 England - International Friendly (D)
• November 1955, England 4-1 Spain - International Friendly (W)
• May 1960, Spain 3-0 England - International Friendly (L)
• October 1960, England 4-2 Spain - International Friendly (W)
• December 1965, Spain 0-2 England - International Friendly (W)
• May 1967, England 2-0 Spain - International Friendly (W)
• April 1968, England 1-0 Spain - European Championship (W)
• May 1968, Spain 1-2 England - European Championship (W)
• March 1980, Spain 0-2 England - International Friendly (W)
• June 1980, England 2-1 Spain - European Championship (W)
• March 1981, England 1-2 Spain - International Friendly (L)
• July 1982, Spain 0-0 England - World Cup (D)
• February 1987, Spain 2-4 England - International Friendly (W)
• September 1992, Spain 1-0 England - International Friendly (L)
• June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain - European Championship (W)
• February 2001, England 3-0 Spain - International Friendly (W)
• November 2004, Spain 1-0 England - International Friendly (L)
• February 2007, England 0-1 Spain - International Friendly (L)
• February 2009, Spain 2-0 England - International Friendly (L)
• November 2011, England 1-0 Spain - International Friendly (W)
• November 2015, Spain 2-0 England - International Friendly (L)
• November 2016, England 2-2 Spain - International Friendly (D)
• September 2018, England 1-2 Spain - Nations League (L)
• October 2018, Spain 2-3 England - Nations League (W)

Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.