Southgate teases career switch out of football after period of ‘reflection’

Gareth Southgate has indicated he may never return to football management after leaving his job as England manager last summer.

The 54-year-old was in charge of the national team for eight years before stepping down after leading his side to the Euro 2024 final in the summer.

In October, Southgate said he planned to take a year's break from management before considering a return to football.

But after posting on social media platform LinkedIn, the coach hinted he may be ready to leave the game for a different career path.

“After eight years in one of the most prominent roles in world football, I am consciously taking time to reflect on what I have been through and think deeply about what comes next,” Southgate wrote in a post on LinkedIn .

“The weight of the role and the unique responsibility it brought was something few have ever experienced. But perhaps the hardest thing to replicate is the sense of purpose.

“Even in the most difficult moments, whether after heartbreaking defeats or during tense media scrutiny, I was acutely aware of the need to act with dignity and demonstrate strong leadership. This was not just for the players and staff next to me, but also for the millions of young people watching, who might find inspiration and hope in what we do.

“This higher purpose kept me on track, gave me structure, made my life more fulfilling, and will be extremely difficult to replicate. Therefore, I am not limiting my future options to remaining as a football coach.

“I'm comfortable with this period of 'exploration' and not having all the answers. I follow the advice I would give to any young person, without a clear career vision. Keep learning, build or explore your network, seek other life experiences and when you decide what's next, there will be no right or wrong, just one path or the other.

'For now, I find my desired goal within all of that, which is being able to dial in the days on which I support my chosen charities.

'I'm not the only one in my fifties who is considering a change of course.'

Southgate, 54, left the England job in July after eight years and four major tournaments. He reached two European finals, but fell behind Italy and Spain.

Among other charity work, Southgate is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Prince's Trust and an ambassador for Martin House children's hospice in Boston Spa.

Stepping out of the game completely after managing England is certainly a rare move.

You have to go back to Roy Greenwood in 1982 to find a former England boss who decides to leave football management behind – and even he has moved on to punditry.

All eleven permanent managers who have left since then, alongside Southgate, have taken up another management job in the game.

However, it should not come as a complete surprise. Speaking at the European Club Association Assembly in October, he said he would at least take a break to consider his options.

'I'm definitely not going to coach next year. I am sure of that,” he said.

'I have to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come from a really big role, you have to give your body time, give your mind time.”