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An increasing number of St George's and Union Jack flags have been spotted throughout England in the past few months.
While some view the display of flags as a sign of patriotism, others perceive it as a source of intimidation.
Gareth Southgate, who managed the England national team for eight years, resigned after a loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Despite not securing any trophies with England, he is well-regarded for his role in bringing the country together in support of the team and has since authored a book titled Dear England: Lessons in Leadership.
On Monday, Jon Kay, the presenter of BBC Breakfast, solicited Southgate's views on the flag discussion, stating: "Some people feel pride toward them, while others question their presence in specific situations. How do you feel about the flags issue, especially regarding your perspective on patriotism?"
Southgate responded: "I am concerned about unity. I’ve witnessed how we managed to unite all communities through the team.
"I genuinely believe that there are more things that connect us than divide us. We ought to concentrate on what brings us together rather than what creates division."
Gary Neville, a former England player and co-owner of Salford City, recently condemned the negative connotation of the St George's flag. He mentioned that he had instructed the removal of a flag from a construction site in which he has invested.
Later that week, Salford City's League Two match against Oldham Athletic faced a delay due to two pitch invaders who attempted to place a St George's flag in the center circle at the Peninsula Stadium.
The far-right organization Britain First took responsibility for this act, asserting that they had “collaborated with local Salford patriots” to protest against Neville's perceived betrayal.
Southgate commented, "Throughout history, there will always be some underlying disunity."
"Many individuals are facing economic hardships, which helps explain their feelings of disenfranchisement.
"The Covid pandemic served as a prime example of how people came together, shopping for their neighbors and supporting one another—that is what embodies the British spirit."
Southgate began his tenure as England's head coach in November 2016 following an interim period and earned 57 caps during his playing career.
His nearest encounter with winning a trophy for the national team as a player occurred in 1996, when he missed a penalty in a semi-final shootout loss to Germany at Wembley.
When discussing the significance of failure, Southgate remarked, "One of life's certainties is that things will not always go as planned. What I took away from 1996 is that I was unable to perform a skill under pressure and realized that I needed to be better prepared.
"That night, as I tried to sleep, I thought to myself: 'I have no idea how I will ever recover from this.'
"The entire nation was engulfed in the excitement of football during the 1996 tournament and moving toward the final, and I felt accountable for our exit."
However, the following day, you venture outside the house and gradually move past it. When I played at rival locations, people were quick to bring it up, but there’s always a path through such challenges, and you must discover that inner strength to overcome them.
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