Gareth Southgate Rules Out Premier League Return

Gareth Southgate does not envision sitting on a Premier League bench again. The 56-year-old, who resigned as England manager after losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain, has made it clear that his time coaching top-flight clubs in England is behind him.

• Southgate does not see himself managing a club in the Premier League.
• His last club job was at Middlesbrough between 2006 and 2009.
• He admits he stopped enjoying victories towards the end of his England tenure.
• Since leaving the national team he has focused on media, lectures and academic work.
• He also shared his view on the Manchester City case and criticised the rush to punish.

Why Southgate Is Closing the Door on the Premier League

During an interview on 'The Amol Rajan Connection' podcast, Southgate was direct when asked about a potential return to the English top flight: «I don't see a scenario where I do that.» The answer puts an end to any rumours linking him with a major club vacancy following his spell with the national team.

The coach has not worked at club level since his time at Middlesbrough, where he was in charge from 2006 to 2009. After that experience, he focused on the England youth setup until taking over the senior side in 2016, a role he held for eight years.

The Emotional Toll of Managing England

Southgate explained the deeper reason behind his decision. As the end of his cycle with the Three Lions approached, the joy of winning gradually faded. «By the end, I didn't even enjoy the wins for any longer than a couple of minutes,» he admitted. That wear and tear, combined with the constant pressure surrounding English football, led him to rethink his professional future.

Towards the end of my time with England, I stopped enjoying it. Wins keep you going, but in the end they lasted barely a couple of minutes for me.

His New Life Away from the Touchline

Since leaving the national team, Southgate has completely changed his routine. He has barely set foot in football stadiums: the only exception was the FA Cup final in which his team, Crystal Palace, lifted their first major trophy. «I've not been to a football ground since,» the former defender said.

His time has been filled with projects far removed from elite sport. He has worked as a media pundit, fronted a BBC documentary focused on the challenges facing young men and boys, and served as a visiting lecturer at Harvard Business School in Boston. Activities that, in his own words, have given him a fresh perspective on leadership.

Personal Satisfaction After 37 Years of Pressure

The former England boss summed up his current state with a revealing statement: «I've loved the last 18 months of my life.» He explained that for 37 years his identity depended on winning or losing every Saturday, and that he now enjoys experiences he never allowed himself before: meetings with politicians, contact with the media industry, and trips around the world to learn about leadership in very different fields.

Southgate's Take on the Manchester City Case

In the same conversation, Southgate addressed the recent verdict against Manchester City for breaching Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The independent commission found that the club used sham contracts to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs. City have denied any wrongdoing and submitted an appeal on 2 October.

Far from joining the calls for exemplary punishment, Southgate urged calm and a broader perspective. «There'll be the tribal fans' response to punish Manchester City as much as we can, relegate them, fine them, do whatever you can,» he said. However, he stressed that his experience in UEFA or FIFA meetings has taught him how complex these processes are.

The coach argued that, whatever happens, football loses. «None of this is good for football and there are no winners,» he insisted. In his view, even the Premier League might feel a brief sense of justification after the criticism it received for how long the case took, but it will soon have to deal with the messy management of potential appeals and the long-term effects on the competition.