Former England manager Gareth Southgate has revealed that the pressure of football management gradually affected his enjoyment of the game, prompting him to take a step back after leaving the national team following Euro 2024.
Southgate, who led England to consecutive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024, said he currently has little desire to return to management, particularly in the Premier League, after years of having his life shaped by the results of football matches.
According to BBC Sport, the former England defender made the remarks during an appearance on The Amol Rajan Connection, explaining that even victories had stopped giving him lasting satisfaction towards the end of his tenure.
“I don’t see a scenario where I do that,” he said when asked about a possible return to Premier League management.
“Towards the end of my time with England, I stopped enjoying, at the very least for a period, the wins keep you going.
“By the end, I didn’t even enjoy the wins for any longer than a couple of minutes. So, I’ve hardly watched football.”
Southgate resigned in July 2024, two days after England lost 2-1 to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. The defeat marked another painful near-miss for England under his leadership, following their loss to Italy in the final of Euro 2020.
Although his tenure brought England greater consistency at major tournaments, the failure to win a trophy during his time in charge continued to attract scrutiny from supporters and critics.
His decision to leave the job marked the end of an eight-year spell that had seen him guide England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the final of Euro 2020 and another European final in 2024.
Since stepping down, Southgate has gradually explored interests outside the demanding routine of football management. He said he had not attended a football ground since watching his boyhood club, Crystal Palace, win the FA Cup final.
“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 said.
Rather than rushing back into the dugout, the former Middlesbrough manager has taken up opportunities in broadcasting, education and leadership discussions. He has also presented a BBC documentary examining the challenges facing young men and boys and served as a visiting lecturer at Harvard Business School in Boston.
Southgate said the change of direction had given him the opportunity to meet people from different fields, travel and learn about leadership beyond football.
“I’ve loved the last 18 months of my life,” he said.
“I’ve had 37 years where my sense of self depended on did I win or lose on Saturday. And actually I’ve loved having different experiences.”
He added that meeting politicians and media professionals, alongside learning from people in other sectors, had allowed him to experience life from a different perspective.
“I’ve just enjoyed playing a different film in my life,” he said.
Southgate warns over Manchester City’s financial case
Away from his own future, Southgate also discussed Manchester City’s ongoing legal dispute with the Premier League over alleged breaches of its financial regulations.
The case concerns alleged breaches spanning several seasons, with the club denying wrongdoing. The dispute has attracted considerable attention because of the possible implications for City and the wider English game.
Southgate cautioned against treating the matter simply as an opportunity to punish one club, arguing that the legal and regulatory issues involved were complicated and could have far-reaching consequences.
“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.
Drawing on his experience of dealing with football authorities, including UEFA and FIFA, he urged people to recognise the complexity of the process.
“I’ve been in football boardrooms, I’ve been in meetings with UEFA, I’ve been in meetings with FIFA, I have been in all these spaces and I know how complicated all of this is,” he added.
Southgate said he believed the dispute could leave the sport worse off, regardless of the eventual outcome, particularly if it led to prolonged legal battles and further uncertainty.
“My underlying thought is none of this is good for football and there are no winners,” he said.
For now, Southgate appears comfortable with his decision to step away from management. After years of living with the expectations and intense scrutiny attached to leading England, he is embracing a different chapter—one in which his identity is no longer determined by whether his team wins or loses on a Saturday.