Former England manager Gareth Southgate has ruled out a return to Premier League management, saying his desire to remain involved in football has changed since leaving the national team.
The 56-year-old has been out of management since stepping down as England manager after Euro 2024, where the Three Lions lost 2-1 to Spain in the final.
Southgate has been linked with several Premier League jobs, including Manchester United, but has indicated that a return to club management is not something he is considering.
Speaking on The Amol Rajan Connection, Southgate said he no longer sees himself taking charge of a Premier League club.
“I don’t see a scenario where I do that,” he said.
Southgate explained that towards the end of his England tenure, the pressure of management had affected his enjoyment of the game, with victories offering only brief satisfaction.
“Towards the end of my time with England, I stopped enjoying, at the very least for a period, the wins keep you going,” he said.
“By the end, I didn’t even enjoy the wins for any longer than a couple of minutes. So, I’ve hardly watched football.”
The former manager added that his last visit to a football ground was the FA Cup final, where he watched Crystal Palace win their first major trophy by beating Manchester City 1-0 in May 2025.
“I went to the FA Cup final to see my team, Crystal Palace, win their first trophy. I’ve not been to a football ground since. So my sort of desire to be involved in football has changed,” he added.
Southgate managed England from 2016 to 2024, leading the team to consecutive European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024, as well as the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
At club level, his only managerial experience came with Middlesbrough, whom he led from 2006 until his dismissal in 2009.
