Southgate says he will not return to football management

Gareth Southgate has said he cannot see himself returning to football management. The former England boss, who stepped down after last year's European Championship final, has effectively ruled out a Premier League comeback.

Southgate, 56, has not been to a football ground since watching his club, Crystal Palace, win the FA Cup final 18 months ago. He has spent his time since leaving the England role as a technical observer for UEFA and as a visiting lecturer at Harvard Business School.

"I don't see a scenario where I do that," Southgate said about a potential return to club management. He explained that his sense of self was tied to winning and losing for 37 years, and he is now enjoying a different chapter. "I went to the FA Cup final to see my team, Crystal Palace, win their first trophy."

His only club managerial role was a three-year spell at Middlesbrough, which ended in relegation in 2009. He later took charge of the national team in 2016, leading them to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and consecutive European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024.

Southgate was succeeded by Thomas Tuchel, who has since guided the team to a Nations League semi-final. The current side is in strong form, having won three consecutive matches, including a 7-0 victory over Croatia earlier this month. Their most recent result was a 3-0 win over Czechia, with Harry Kane scoring twice. The team's next challenge is a friendly against Germany, which is now listed on the fixtures page.

Reflecting on his time away, Southgate said he has loved the last 18 months, meeting people from politics and media and learning about leadership in different fields. He also commented on the ongoing Manchester City financial case, describing it as "unbelievably complex" and a situation with "no winners". The former manager's focus remains on his new life outside the dugout, with no plans to change course.

This story first appeared at Daily Mirror Football