Gareth Southgate has admitted he may never return to elite-level management. The former England manager spent eight years in charge before stepping down following defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
Southgate has been touted for numerous positions and was widely anticipated to take up a club role at some point. Manchester United's owners INEOS are known to admire the 56-year-old, who is seen as a candidate to replace Michael Carrick if the current boss is axed any time soon.
Southgate's admission on his future
However, the 56-year-old has cast significant doubt over whether he will ever manage again, disclosing he hasn't even set foot in a football stadium for nearly 18 months.
Southgate acknowledges he had lost his passion for the role towards the conclusion of his spell as one of England's most accomplished managers in history. He guided the Three Lions to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final.
No return to the Premier League
Yet when questioned about a potential return to the Premier League, he responded: "I don't see a scenario where I do that."
"Towards the end of my time with England, I stopped enjoying it. For a period, you know, the wins keep you going. By the end, I didn't even enjoy the wins for any longer than a couple of minutes."
A different life beyond football
"I've hardly watched football (since leaving). I went to the Champions League final, the year after I left England, 2025, and I went to the FA Cup final to see my team (Crystal) Palace win their first trophy, but (I've) not been to a football ground since."
Southgate maintains he wishes to pursue something different with his life beyond football. He continued: "I've had 37 years where my sense of self depended on, 'did I win...did I win or lose on Saturday?'"
"I'm not interested in survival, you know, just being a manager because it's a good salary. Survival, that doesn't excite me. One of the beauties with England was we could win, we could create history, we could break new ground. I've given a lot of my life to football. I've given every ounce I had. And I just fancy a different period of my life."
