Former England manager Gareth Southgate says he is “very relaxed” about not being in football and suggested that he may never return to management.
Southgate, who stepped down as England manager following their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, has spoken publicly about his next career move amid strong links to the Manchester United job
The 55-year-old name has been repeatedly mentioned in relation to the Old Trafford position, partly due to his association with Sir Dave Brailsford of INEOS, yet he insists his focus currently lies away from football.
Honey, in recent interviews promoting his new book Dear England: Lessons in Leadership, Southgate made it clear that his priority now is reflection and mentorship rather than club management.
He emphasised that he remains content outside football and has found new purpose in leadership projects involving young people.
Southgate maintained that he is not rushing into any decisions and would only return to football if the right project truly inspired him. For now, his work beyond the touchline has taken priority as he explores the next chapter of a career that has already spanned nearly four decades in the sport.
Gareth Southgate during his time as the Head Coach of England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
In a BBC Radio 5 Live interview, Southgate was pressed about whether the Manchester United job might tempt him back into management. Smiling, he replied: “Well, I think they’ve got a manager and he seems to be doing pretty well at the moment.”
“I had an amazing time [as England manager],” Southgate told the BBC. “Obviously, the great thing with England was there is the high purpose that you are… you know, I joined the FA to try to help English football to become better, to help youth development, in particular. I somehow stumbled and ended up in the first-team manager’s job, and we had a pretty good period.
“But I am not desperate to stay in football. I have had 37 years in football. You can never say never, because I have just seen Martin O’Neill at his age go to Celtic, but it is not something that is high on my agenda at the moment. I am enjoying the work around leadership. I am enjoying my work with young people. I am very determined to try and make a difference there. And so, I am very relaxed about not being in football at the moment.”
Southgate also acknowledged that stepping away from the England job gave him a new perspective on purpose and leadership. “With the national team, we had a greater purpose,” he said. “I went to the Football Association initially to improve youth football, to improve how English players were viewed around the world and to try to improve the scope for English coaches. I end up in the [England] manager’s job, which wasn’t the intention and so I stumble into that, we have a good few years, and people assume you want to stay in football. But I’m very passionate about this work around young men.”
Appointed in 2016, Southgate guided England to their first major tournament final in 55 years at Euro 2020 and repeated the feat at Euro 2024, only narrowly missing out on silverware in both.
