Gareth Southgate, the current coach of England’s national football team, remains unfazed by the prospect of returning to club management once his tenure with the national team concludes. Having left his last club management position almost fifteen years ago after being dismissed by Middlesbrough in 2009, Southgate has since achieved notable success, particularly leading England’s Under-21 team before taking the helm of the senior national squad in 2016.
During his time as England’s coach, Southgate has overseen a remarkable transformation in the team’s international performance. Under his guidance, England reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, a feat not accomplished since 1990, and progressed to the Euro 2020 final, marking their first major tournament final since 1966.
With his current contract set to expire at the end of 2024, there is speculation that Euro 2024 could be Southgate’s final competition as the head coach of the Three Lions. Despite this, Southgate expressed in an interview with Sky Sports that he is unafraid of the possibility of returning to club management. Reflecting on his earlier managerial experience in the Premier League, he emphasized that his current extensive background with the national team has equipped him to handle any managerial position in international football.
Recalling a conversation with Jose Mourinho during his time at Manchester United, Southgate shared the advice he received: “After you’ve finished your current role, you’ll be equipped to tackle anything.” Southgate expressed confidence in his current position and the future, acknowledging that while he doesn’t anticipate staying in his role for an extended period, he remains relaxed about what the future holds.
