England boss Gareth Southgate says he should have kept his "mouth shut" instead of criticising his predecessors Kevin Keegan and Sven-Goran Eriksson, having now understood the rigours of the national team job he took up in 2016.
In a book he co-authored with former player Andy Woodman, Southgate was critical of both managers' tactics and style. But he has changed his tone having been on the receiving end of criticism after recent results.
England scraped past Iceland last month thanks to a stoppage time penalty in a 1-0 win before an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Denmark in the Nations League raised questions about Southgate's tactical acumen and overly cautious approach.
"The first thing to say is that when you start to manage, you realise that as a player you shouldn't write autobiographies in that way because you don't really know the complexities of the job," Southgate said.
"Although I enjoyed the book... I look back and regret criticising people who I shouldn't have criticised. I should have kept my mouth shut.
"I think Kevin is a special person, who I loved working with. I now know how difficult the job he had was... I did also say some things about Sven in the book that were unfair. I now know his style was unique to him, and that's how he had to be."
In his own defence, Southgate said a number of teams were struggling to overcome difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the Euros postponed to 2021 and hampered preparations after last season's club football extended right into the summer.
England struggle against Iceland
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England captain Harry Kane celebrates scoring in the first half against Iceland before it was wrongly disallowed for offside, during the Uefa Nations League match in Reykjavik on Saturday, September 5. England won the game 1-0. Reuters -
England's Jordan Pickford shows a safe pair of hands. Reuters -
England's Raheem Sterling. AP -
England's Phil Foden on his debut. Reuters -
Iceland's Sverrir Ingason concedes a penalty as a shot from Raheem Sterling strikes his arm. Reuters -
Iceland's Sverrir Ingason on the ground after conceding a penalty. Reuters -
Referee Srdjan Jovanovic shows the red card to Sverrir Ingason after the Iceland defender conceded a penalty for handball. AFP -
England's Raheem Sterling scores from the spot. AP -
England's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring the winner. Reuters -
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford watches Birkir Bjarnason's penalty sail over the bar. Reuters -
England's Jadon Sancho takes on Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson of Iceland. Reuters -
England's Kyle Walker after being sent-off. AP -
Referee Srdan Jovanovic after showing a second yellow and subsequent red card to England's Kyle Walker. Reuters -
England attacker Raheem Sterling. Reuters -
England's Harry Kane in action with Sverrir Ingason of Iceland. Reuters -
England's Eric Dier, left, and Jordan Pickford close down Jon Dadi Bodvarsson of Iceland. PA -
England midfielder James Ward-Prowse in possession. AFP -
Kyle Walker of England. Getty
"I'm seeing the most successful managers in the world heavily criticised on the back of a couple of performances. It's the world we live in," he added.
"I believe we have made progress since I've been involved. We have proved we can be tactically adaptable, and I am still enjoying it, but the last England get-together was really complicated and challenging."
England play Wales in a friendly on Thursday followed by Nations League fixtures against Belgium on October 11 and Denmark on October 14.
