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ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate has been secretly fighting Covid.
The 50-year-old man tested positive for the virus late last month after developing symptoms.
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He was forced to isolate himself for ten days before subsequent controls were negative.
Concern grew due to his age, but his physical condition helped him fight the deadly virus, and his England stars were unaware.
A source said: “He’s a professional, he just kept going. Fortunately, he is very fit for his age. “
Southgate tested positive around October 25, derailing his preparations for current international matches.
He isolated himself at his home in North Yorkshire, abandoning plans to attend Premier League matches in person.
Like Prince William, who was diagnosed with coronavirus in April, he kept the news quiet and only a handful of people knew about it.
A subsequent test came back negative on November 5, allowing him to host a Zoom press conference to announce his latest team.
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England’s staff and players are regularly screened and Southgate, who played 57 games before becoming boss in 2016, has had several negative checks since then.
He exercises and jogs every day, once dislocating his shoulder in a race before the 2018 World Cup.
He’s a pro, he just kept going.
The same year he showed off his stamina and fitness on Bear Grylls’ ITV wilderness survival show.
Grylls said, “Wild always rewards commitment and courage, and Gareth has both more than anything.”
Southgate showed no after-effects from the virus during Thursday’s win over Ireland at Wembley.
He was also in good spirits at yesterday’s press conference before tonight’s Nations League clash in Belgium.
Southgate has been a huge fan of the NHS during the Covid pandemic.
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My struggle to reach the top
By Jane Atkinson
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate has opened up about the setbacks that almost caused him to turn down the top position and once left him feeling such “humiliation” that he felt embarrassed to pick up his children from school.
Gareth shares his life lessons in an inspiring book written in conjunction with The Prince’s Trust that aims to mentor young people who lack the confidence to reach their full potential.
He reveals: “After three years in my managerial role at Middlesbrough, I was fired. It was not a pleasant experience. It just felt like a humiliation.
“At the school pick-up run, I felt like everyone was looking at me, and then I had to tell my kids. It was hard not to take it personally and my self esteem suffered. I felt like I had failed at work.
On the other hand, I reminded myself, I had been in a similar situation as a player. I knew I could get through this.
“When I was at school, I started training one night a week with Southampton.
“Many of the trainee players were full of confidence. Being the quiet one, it meant that I really stood out. I didn’t help myself on my first day of training. I put on my school shirt and pants, only to find that everyone else was in tracksuits or jeans. It felt like a disaster even before it started.
“The coach, Alan Smith, called me up and said, ‘You’re a lovely guy, but as a footballer you don’t have a chance.
“If I can go from being a skinny, introverted teenager who was told I would not do it as a player to someone who played and managed their country, then I am a clear example that ‘anything is possible.’
- Anything is Possible by Gareth Southgate was published by Century on November 26 at £ 16.99. Gareth will donate all proceeds from the book to the Prince’s Trust Future Leaders initiative.
In March, he urged fans to stay home to help our hospitals.
He said: “Life is very different for all of us right now and sport is rightly stepping aside to support a greater cause during these unprecedented times.”
In May, he accepted a 30 per cent cut in his salary of £ 5 million to help the NHS.
Southgate also delighted two front-line workers by calling them personally to thank them.
Southgate said: “It is important that the nation supports those who play their part in helping society return to a sense of normalcy.”
Last month, his preparations for the Wales match were thrown into chaos after Three Lions stars Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho broke Covid rules.
Your key tips
Be brave. It takes courage to admit that some aspects of our personality need improvement. Addressing our weaknesses can be a challenging but rewarding process.
Be kind. Our conduct is key. We can fight our way to the top or play fairly to our strengths.
Follow your dreams. Breaking down a challenge makes it manageable. Take one step at a time making every step count.
They attended a party with dozens of other guests, forcing the irate Southgate to leave them.
He said the rules were being broken across the country, adding: “Now there is a lot of disharmony. We are all in this situation together. ”
England will play Iceland at Wembley on Wednesday after the visitors were granted permission to fly from Denmark, where they play today.
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