Roy Hodgson announced his resignation after England's defeat defeat by Iceland in the Round of 16. (Photo: ITV)
Roy Hodgson announced his resignation after England’s defeat defeat by Iceland in the Round of 16. (Photo: ITV)

The coach of the English national team, Roy Hodgson, has resigned after his team’s shocking 2-1 defeat by Iceland in the EURO 2016 Championship.

“I’m sorry it will have to end this way but these things happen,” he said. “I hope you will still be able to see an England team in a final of a major tournament soon.

“Now is the time for someone else to oversee the progress of a hungry and extremely talented group of players. They have done fantastically, and done everything asked of them.”

The 68 year old coach who had won 33 out of 56 games for his nation, had his contract up for renewal at the end of the tourney. The Chairman of the English Football Association (FA), Greg Dyke had said Hodgson would keep his job if the Three Lions had a good performance in France.

Following the coach’s resignation, the FA has said:

“Like the nation, we are disappointed to lose this evening and that our run in Euro 2016 has come to a premature end. We had high hopes of progressing through to the latter stages of the competition and accept that we have not met our own expectations or those of the country.

“We back Roy Hodgson’s decision to step down as England manager and will discuss next steps imminently.”

It has also been confirmed that Gary Neville and Ray Lewington, England’s assistant coaches that worked with Hodgson, would be leaving the team also.