Gareth Southgate Reflects on Future After Stepping Down from England

Former England manager Gareth Southgate discusses his future plans after stepping down in July following two successive European Championship final defeats. Open to roles within and outside football, Southgate takes time to recharge while England searches for a new manager. He reflects on his achievements with the national team.

Former England manager Gareth Southgate has stated he is in no hurry to find a new role, keeping an open mind about his future opportunities. At 54, Southgate stepped down in July, after England's second consecutive European Championship final defeat, concluding an eight-year tenure with the national team.

Currently, England is still on the hunt for Southgate's replacement, although interim manager Lee Carsley has impressed with 2-0 victories against Ireland and Finland. Speculation links Southgate with a position at Old Trafford, potentially succeeding under-pressure Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag, or a technical observer role at UEFA.

"I've got lots of opportunities, I'm very open-minded to what's next. That might be in football, that might be outside of football," Southgate told Sky News. "I'm just going to take some time to refresh, recharge, and go from there. People know I need to get my energy back. I'm not rushing into anything; I want to make sure I make good decisions."

Reflecting on his tenure, Southgate noted that he helped re-establish England on the international stage. Under his leadership, the team reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, the 2022 quarter-finals, and the last two European Championship finals. "I don't think you can have regrets," he said. "We made decisions to try and produce a winning team. We needed to put English football back on the map."

(With inputs from agencies.)