Former England manager, Gareth Southgate, has explained why he took a break from football after resigning as Three Lions manager following their defeat in the Euro 2024 final.
Southgate, who led England to consecutive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024, said he currently has no intention of returning to Premier League management, citing a decline in his enjoyment of football towards the end of his tenure.
The 56-year-old stepped down after England suffered a 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final and has remained without a managerial role since then.
Speaking on The Amol Rajan Connection, as reported by BBC Sport on Thursday, Southgate admitted that the demands of managing the national team had gradually affected his passion for the game.
“I don’t see a scenario where I do that,” he said when asked about the possibility of returning to Premier League management.
“Towards the end of my time with England, I stopped enjoying, at the very least for a period, the wins keep you going.
“By the end, I didn’t even enjoy the wins for any longer than a couple of minutes. So, I’ve hardly watched football.”
The former Middlesbrough manager also disclosed that he had not attended a football match since watching his boyhood club, Crystal Palace, win the FA Cup for the first time.
“I went to the FA Cup final to see my team, Crystal Palace, win their first trophy. I’ve not been to a football ground since. So my sort of desire to be involved in football has changed,” he added.
Since leaving the England job, Southgate has explored opportunities outside the traditional football management environment.
His activities have included media engagements, presenting a BBC documentary examining challenges confronting young men and boys, and working as a visiting lecturer at Harvard Business School in Boston.
He said stepping away from the dugout had given him the opportunity to explore new interests and experience life beyond the pressures associated with football.
“I’ve loved the last 18 months of my life,” he said.
“I’ve had 37 years where my sense of self depended on did I win or lose on Saturday. And actually I’ve loved having different experiences.
“I’ve met politicians, I’ve met people in the media industry, I have learned about leadership in all sorts of areas, I’ve travelled around the world learning things.“
“I’ve just enjoyed playing a different film in my life.”
Southgate Weighs In On Man City Financial Case
The former England boss also commented on Manchester City’s ongoing legal dispute over alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
An independent commission found the club guilty of most of the charges relating to the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
Manchester City have denied wrongdoing and submitted an appeal on October 2.
Southgate warned that the outcome of the case could have significant implications for English football, regardless of the final decision.
While acknowledging that some supporters would favour severe sanctions against the reigning football powerhouse, he urged caution, pointing to the complexity of football governance and his experience dealing with major football authorities.
“There’ll be the tribal fans’ response to punish Manchester City as much as we can, relegate them, fine them, do whatever you can,” he said.
“I’ve been in football boardrooms, I’ve been in meetings with Uefa, I’ve been in meetings with Fifa, I have been in all these spaces and I know how complicated all of this is.”
Southgate expressed concern that the dispute could leave the sport worse off, particularly if the proceedings lead to further legal battles and disagreements over appropriate sanctions.
“My underlying thought is none of this is good for football and there are no winners,” he said.
He also highlighted the difficulty the Premier League would face in managing the consequences of the case while protecting the wider interests of the game.
“That’s unbelievably complex,” he added.
For now, Southgate appears satisfied with his decision to remain outside football management, embracing new professional experiences after years of working under the intense scrutiny that comes with leading England.
