Gareth Southgate has definitively ruled out a return to football management, ending any lingering speculation about a potential comeback at Middlesbrough or elsewhere. The former Boro captain and manager stated he has not set foot in a stadium for nearly 18 months and has lost his enjoyment of the sport.
Southgate’s only club management role was his three-year stint at the Riverside, where he succeeded Steve McClaren in 2006 before departing following relegation in 2009. He is fondly remembered on Teesside for captaining the side to the 2004 Carling Cup triumph, the club's first major honour.
Stepping away from the game
Speaking on The Amol Rajan Connection podcast, Southgate explained his current distance from the sport. "I don’t see a scenario where I do that," he said regarding a return to management. He last attended a match at the 2025 FA Cup final and admitted his desire to be involved has fundamentally changed.
He described how, by the end of his eight-year tenure as England manager which concluded after Euro 2024, even victories brought little lasting joy. "By the end, I didn't even enjoy the wins for any longer than a couple of minutes," Southgate said. The 56-year-old added that the prospect of mere survival management for a salary does not excite him, having given 37 years of his life to the game. He elaborated that the emotional toll was immense, noting the constant scrutiny and the feeling that his identity was consumed by the job, leaving no separation between his personal life and his professional results.
A new chapter
Southgate said he is now relishing different experiences, from meeting politicians to exploring leadership beyond football. "I've loved the last 18 months of my life," he stated, enjoying a period where his sense of self is no longer tied to a Saturday result. He spoke of engaging with businesses and charities, finding a new perspective that football had previously narrowed. The former defender confessed that stepping away has allowed him to reconnect with family and friends in a way that was impossible during his managerial career, describing it as a necessary and liberating break.
His comments arrive as Middlesbrough, the club he once led, enjoy a strong start to the Championship season. They currently sit second in the standings with 21 points from 10 games, a position built on a recent run of five wins and a draw from their last six matches. The team's recent 3-2 win at Stoke City, where they came from behind, extended this unbeaten run, with Will Lankshear netting his eighth goal of the campaign. According to the latest stats, Boro's attacking form has been key, averaging over two goals per game. Attention now turns to maintaining that promotion push, with the next challenge a home fixtures against Cardiff City this Saturday, a match where they will look to capitalise on their strong form at the Riverside.
More detail at The Northern Echo
