Gareth Southgate has insisted he isn’t daunted by the prospect of a return to club management once he eventually leaves his post as England coach.
Southgate hasn’t been involved in club level management in almost 15 years, being sacked by Middlesbrough in 2009 after three seasons in charge at the Riverside Stadium.
Since then, Southgate has bounced back with a wonderful spell as England Under-21 manager before taking over the senior national team in 2016. During his time as the Three Lions coach, Southgate has overseen a dramatic turnaround in the nation’s fortunes at international competitions. The manager guided England to the World Cup semi finals for the first time since 1990 in 2018, and to their first international tournament final since 1966 in 2021 – losing to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium.
His current contract runs until the end of 2024, and there has been plenty of speculation that Euro 2024 will be his last tournament in charge of the Three Lions.
Southgate’s next move after leaving the England would likely be a return to club management and, speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, he insisted that he was not daunted by the prospect due to his experiences as Three Lions manager:
“I was 35 years old when I managed in the Premier League and we finished 12th and 13th. I knew nothing like what I know now. There isn’t a job in world football that would intimidate or daunt you, having lived this one.
“I remember talking to Jose [Mourinho] when he was at Man United and he said to me: ‘when you’ve done the role you’re in now you’ll be able to do anything really’.
“I thought that was probably right, but seven years into it it’s definitely right. I’m confident in this role and whatever might be in the future.
“Of course I’m not going to be here for 20/30 years and I don’t know what the future will be. I’m very calm about that, but I’m not worried about what that might be.”
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