Spain star who helped end Southgate’s playing career 18 YEARS ago can do same

JESUS NAVAS helped end Gareth Southgate’s playing career — and is now part of the squad aiming to call time on his tenure as England manager.

A staggering 18 YEARS after Southgate and the La Roja right-back faced off in the Uefa Cup final, they meet in Berlin for a far bigger prize.

This time it is for Spain versus England in the Euro 2024 final.

As we revealed with some brilliant throwback photos yesterday, back in 2006 Navas’ Sevilla side battered Middlesbrough 4-0 in Eindhoven.

And after spells with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa beforehand, that ended up being the final game of Southgate’s playing career.

The FA still hope that Southgate will stay in post beyond Euro 2024.

However, there is every chance the former Boro boss, 53, could step down and seek a return to club football.

Southgate is under contract until December and his future has been the topic of much speculation.

But he insisted last night that he is only focussed on ending England’s 58-year wait for silverware.

He said: “Emotionally, it would be impossible for me to make a logical decision at the moment on any of that because my sole focus for two years has been winning this tournament.

“The last five or six weeks have been an absolute rollercoaster, so I don't actually know where I am with anything other than being very focused on preparing the team for this game.

“I'm determined to keep leading them in the way I have over the last month.

“I definitely took the job to try and help English football improve.

“I know what it would mean, not only to the general public in England, but particularly people involved in English football, from those that develop young players to those that run clubs; every level of the game, really.

“We've improved the credibility of English football in how it's perceived around the world but, ultimately, until you win that trophy then there will always be those questions both abroad and at home about what we've done.”

Navas, still representing his country at 38 in his final tournament, was 20 at the time with Southgate 15 years his senior at 35.

Navas is not expected to start the final.

That is despite him being parachuted in to face Kylian Mbappe in the semi-final following Dani Carvajal’s suspension.

And it will not only be Southgate looking for revenge this weekend.

His Three Lions assistant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is also out for redemption.

He was also a started for Boro against Sevilla back in the final.

New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca grabbed a brace, with Freddie Kanoute and Luis Fabiano also scoring in the Spanish side’s drubbing.