Southgate on returning to management: ‘There’s no rush’ | OneFootball

Former England manager Gareth Southgate has said he will not be returning to management for at least a year.

The 54-year-old left his role as Three Lions manager after losing to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.

Southgate was appointed in 2016 and guided England to a World Cup semi-final and back-to-back European Championship finals.

Speaking at the European Club Association general assembly in Athens on Thursday, Southgate says an immediate return to management is out of question:

“I won’t coach in the next year for sure, I’m certain of that,” he said. “I need to give myself time to make good decisions.

“When you come out of a really big role you need to give your body time, you need to give your mind time.

“I’m enjoying my life, so there’s no rush. I’m fortunate that there are lots of different opportunities that are presenting themselves. The business side of football is really interesting.

“I’ve been invited to speak at Harvard and there’s lots of exciting life experiences to have.

“I’m 54 and want to enjoy and be really motivated for the next 10 to 15 years of my life and the most important thing is to give myself time to make good decisions.”

Southgate has been linked with Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford uncertain. The Englishman has said he will be careful about his next choice in club management, ruling out a return to international football.

“Clubs can only be successful if everything is aligned, right the way through the club,” he said.

“I also know that maybe the smarter people sit in the boardrooms and the coaches are a little bit more dispensable than you think when you are there.

“As a coach you think you’re the most important person. I sat in every boardroom in our country for eight years and realised you’re only a small piece in this whole thing.”