Gareth Southgate has addressed rumors linking him to the Manchester United managerial position and discussed his next career move since leaving his role as England manager. Southgate, who stepped down after England's Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, has been linked with Manchester United, especially given Ruben Amorim's difficulties at the club.
Southgate clarified that he is not in a hurry to return to management. In a BBC Breakfast interview, he reflected on his time with England, emphasizing the "higher purpose" of improving English football and youth development. Despite a "pretty good period" with the national team, he stated, "I'm not desperate to stay in football. I've had 37 years in football which is amazing". He is currently enjoying work around leadership and with young people and is "very relaxed about not being in football at the moment".
Just weeks before his BBC interview, Southgate attended the Aspire Academy Global Summit, a gathering of football professionals. He emphasized the importance of developing coaches to improve football, stating, "We are all constantly learning. Bringing people together to share experiences and ideas helps us grow, especially as the game continues to evolve".
Southgate had previously been linked to Manchester United, particularly if Amorim were to be relieved of his duties. Some reports suggested Southgate had expectations for United, including a commitment to a long-term vision to restore the team's competitiveness. However, Southgate has made it clear that he finds it "completely disrespectful" to speculate about a manager's job when someone is already in place.
Despite his achievements with England, including guiding the squad to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final, Southgate's club management experience is limited. He previously managed Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2009, during which the team was relegated from the Premier League.
Since leaving his England post, Southgate has taken on new roles. He joined UEFA as a technical observer, analyzing games from a coaching perspective to help improve coaching education. More recently, he has moved into broadcasting with the BBC, hosting a podcast series called "One Of A Kind," where he interviews successful leaders from various industries.
While Southgate's immediate focus is not on returning to management, he has not ruled it out entirely. "You can't say never to anything," he stated, noting his unexpected return to management after leaving Middlesbrough. He has also been writing a book and is involved in several business interests. Despite previous speculation, journalist David Ornstein reported that Southgate is not in line for the Manchester United job. Joe Cole, a former Premier League title winner, suggested that Southgate would have been the "perfect man for the job" at United, citing his ability to build a culture and work with the club's leadership.
