Joseph Fiennes to Play England Soccer Manager Gareth Southgate in New National Theatre Show
variety.comK.J. Yossman Joseph Fiennes is set to play England soccer manager Gareth Southgate in a new play written by “Sherwood” scribe James Graham.
Fiennes, known for his turns in “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Shakespeare in Love,” will take on the role at London’s National Theatre. “Spring Awakening” director Rupert Goold will helm the production. “It’s time to change the game,” reads the logline. “The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss.
Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?” “With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.” Southgate, who began his career as a soccer player, memorably missed a penalty in the European championship in 1996 during the semi-final match between England and Germany when the game went into extra time.
Germany went on to win both the semi-final and final and the miss became one of the defining moments of Southgate’s career. After retiring as a player in 2006, Southgate moved into management, becoming manager of the national England team in 2016.
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