Former England head coach Gareth Southgate has expressed desire to coach one of the ‘big’ clubs in the English Premier League if he is to return to the dugout.
The 55-year-old has been without a managerial role since leaving the Three Lions after the Euro 2024 final, which they lost 2-1 to Spain.
Southgate was in charge during a period of remarkable improvement in the performance of the English national team and also led them to the final of the 2020 edition of the European Championships, although they were also defeated by Italy.
Meanwhile, his only other club managerial role came during his time at Middlesbrough between 2006 and 2009 and he has now revealed desire to return to a big team.
“I’ve got no passion to just go and manage in the Premier League,” Southgate said.
“I did that at 35, I finished 11th, 12th. Who is in those positions now, probably Bournemouth, Brighton? So I don’t feel the need to just go and do it to say I’ve managed in the Premier League.
“I’ve had one of the biggest jobs in world football so I’ve been spoiled. Huge nights, working with outstanding players. No owner interfering”, the 55-year-old added.
“The bit that, externally, people are saying is, ‘well, he didn’t win.’ So how do you prove that you can win? You’ve got to one of those big clubs.
Now we know those big clubs … do I think I could have done the job that some people who have been in those clubs recently have done? Could I do better? I think I could.”
Southgate has been linked with a move to become the permanent manager of Manchester United in the summer, while he also remains on the shortlist of Tottenham Hotspur, with both ‘traditional big-six’ clubs searching for long-term options at the dugout.
“But we’ve talked about the baggage that comes with me as an appointment if you’re an owner.
“And there’s a reality around [that], I can understand what that noise is. There’s that bit which makes me potentially a complicated appointment for a club”, Southgate concluded.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
