Something amazing has happened over the Euro 2020 tournament that women of Britain must note with approval.
The biggest sex symbol in Britain right now? Not a randy love rat from Love Island, however buff, oiled and pampered, with his teeth straight from the Victorian Plumbing catalogue.
No. It’s a mild-mannered, rabbity, bearded bloke called Gareth.
One, he’s in charge of the England team, which is hot in itself (not that I’m a power-whore with boss-goggles for all-powerful manager types, or anything).
Two, he has managed the Three Lions to their first final since 1966.
The biggest sex symbol in Britain right now? Not a randy love rat from Love Island, however buff, oiled and pampered, with his teeth straight from the Victorian Plumbing catalogue. No. It’s a mild-mannered, rabbity, bearded bloke called Gareth
Three, he has also, on his incredible ‘journey’ — a very Gareth word — to Wembley, defined what is hot and what is not in the super-macho world of top-level football.
Under his sober reign of decency and courtesy, out went the apex predators of the sport indulging in spit-roasts in hotels, stag parties, WAG-swapping and renting secret flats for their mistresses near the training ground.
Under Southgate’s compassionate, kind and steady stewardship of the beautiful game, in came charity work, marrying your childhood sweetheart, ironing your own shirts, calling your mum, and both taking the knee and the children to school so the lady wife can have a lie-in.
The era of Gareth Southgate (pictured) and this England side has redefined the appeal of footballers everywhere.
Southgate and his squad have disposed of the myth that good guys finish last.
They have been triumphantly successful in restoring kind, reliable, trustworthy chaps up on to the pedestal where they have always to my mind belonged.
So here, in tribute to Gareth and his lads, is my handpicked dream team, my fantasy football squad. They are the hottest players in Europe right now in terms of hunk and halo quotient, plus another national manager who has fans on the edge of their seats.
Spanish striker’s striking movesAlvaro Morata (Spain, forward)
The 6 ft 3 in Spaniard has long been noted for his sheer physicality and exuberance on the pitch
The 6 ft 3 in Spaniard has long been noted for his sheer physicality and exuberance on the pitch.
And the Madrid-born 28-year-old has won a multitude of fans off the pitch, especially when he shaved off all his hair in 2014 in solidarity with children suffering from cancer.
‘Kids with cancer wanted to have my haircut but they couldn’t, so I gave myself theirs,’ he said. He married his girlfriend Alice in 2017 and has three young boys.
Sterling example RaheemRaheem Sterling MBE (England, winger and attacking midfielder)
Hard to judge whether Raheem, 26, is more effective on or off the pitch.
He has written a moving account of his early years. He cites his father’s death and his mother’s move to England as formative.
The happiest day of his life was when he bought his mum a house. ‘England is still a place where a naughty boy who comes from nothing can live his dream,’ he says. Legend. With the finest features.
Hard to judge whether Raheem, 26, is more effective on or off the pitch
Few managers look so soulful. Even fewer have modelled for Armani
Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine, manager)
Few managers look so soulful. Even fewer have modelled for Armani. The former player (and politician) is friends with designer Giorgio, and did an ad campaign for the label.
The 44-year-old is wed to an American model and has four sons. He also has a foundation to support orphaned kids.
Heartthrob with heart of goldMason Mount (England, midfielder)
All English eyes were weeping in the scenes after the game on Wednesday when attacking midfielder Mason Mount, 22, the first Chelsea player ever to appear for England in a major tournament semi-final, took off his England shirt and handed it to a ten-year old freckled female fan.
She sobbed uncontrollably in her father’s arms in response. Mount’s glance back at the girl is a picture.
