Gareth Southgate reflects on time as England manager and what now after stepping down

Gareth Southgate reflects on his time as England manager and speaks more via Linkedin what he plans to do now after stepping down.

The 54 year old has suggested that he may not continue as a coach after his departure from his role as England manager in his post.

The only manager bar 1966 World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey have taken the England men’s team into a major tournament final, finishing runners up in Euro 2020 and 2024, he also managed England at four major tournaments, as well as reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and quarter-finals in 2022.

He’s admitted that he may well end up stepping having not taken any coaching roles since his departure from the Three Lions after the Euro 2024 final, where they were beaten by Spain.

In his post, he said: “After eight years serving in one of the highest profile roles in World Football, I’m consciously taking time to reflect on what I lived through and thinking deeply about what comes next.

“Looking back there are matches and moments I will remember for the rest of my life. Coaching top players was a challenge that pushed me to operate at the very highest level. The weight of the role with the unique responsibility it carried was something few ever get to experience. Perhaps the hardest thing of all to replicate though, is going to be the sense of purpose.

“Every morning I drove through the gates of St George’s Park, I had a responsibility to improve English football. Whenever the National Anthem played pre- game, I was representing 50 million people, their hopes and dreams. When I travelled, or spoke publicly I had a duty to be an ambassador for my country. Even in the most difficult moments, whether after heartbreaking defeats or during tense media scrutiny I was acutely aware of the need to stand with dignity and demonstrate strong leadership. This was not only for the players and staff beside me but also for the millions of young people watching, who might find inspiration and hope in what we do.

“This higher purpose kept me on track, gave me structure, made my life more fulfilling and is going to be extremely difficult to replicate.

“It’s why I’m not limiting my future options to remaining as a football coach.

“As part of working out what comes next, I’ve really enjoyed picking the brains of some outstanding people. By offering them a blank canvas great conversations have developed and a flow of ideas I’d never contemplated. (Honestly, joining LinkedIn was not the sum total…!) It’s shown me the importance of a good network and the power of getting different perspectives.

“I’m comfortable with this period of ‘exploration’ and not having all the answers. I’m following the advice I would give to any young person, without a clear career vision. Keep learning, build or explore your network, seek different life experiences and when you decide what’s next, there will be no right or wrong, just one path or another. For now, I’m finding my required purpose within all that being able to dial up the days supporting my chosen charities.

“I’m not the only 50something contemplating a change of direction. An article in The Times last week said that a third of the current 45 to 54 year old working cohort expects to change careers before they retire. Finding purpose appears to be a major driver behind these numbers.

“So if you’re at a similar crossroads I wish you well. It’s my intention to identify people I want to work with and projects and passions I want to work on. I will be putting purpose high on my list of considerations, because in those difficult moments we all face, the purpose will keep us going.”

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Here’s how fans reacted as Gareth Southgate reflects on time as England manager and what now after stepping down…

@FootyAccums: This is basically Gareth just telling Championship & bottom 10 PL clubs to not even bother… He’s gonna want a ‘big’ job to match England and don’t really know where he gets that from.

@cj_garrett: Don’t think he’d be a good option for bottom clubs either.

@hazzyafc: Punditry it is

@Babs_SP: Makes sense. Not gonna get any better or high profile than the role he just left

@dreid78: And who could blame the guy with all the armchair experts in this world 👍🏼

@Floydy_Stu: He was handed the top job in English footy when his CV said he shouldn’t have had it. Failed coach at club level and very lucky to have the players he had at his disposal for England. Should of win something but didn’t because he was tactically inept

@redarmyof1: Could it possibly be that he was simply found out as a coach? He was a failed ex-Middlesbrough manager who spent 12 yrs working for the FA because NOBODY wanted him in charge of their club team!

@EnglandOnOurWay: Whatever you think of him tactically, you’ll struggle to find a prouder Englishman 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@TheSeanIdentity: Give it a month before Humphrey has him on waffling about High Performance

@wuds100: Fair play to him for having the self awareness that he’s a shite manager.

@JimRyansThumbs: Regretting not dropping Kane for Watkins for the Euros Final looks like.

@SoulstarWhitey: Just as well. He plays a bland brand of football. He’s defence minded and has no clue how to blend offensive minded players together to be a potent weapon. Never winning a trophy.

@vix_no9: M&S waistcoat modelling contract on the way

Stephen Billinghurst-Brown: The great thing is you can approach the next chapter knowing that you were an absolute success for England over those eight years. In my mind the best England manager we have ever had and I am old enough to to have lived through the Ramsey era, from start to finish. You and your teams ( back room and playing ) turned wishful thinking into tangible hope. Leaving such a legacy and having been so accomplished gives you a great base to sustain you as you seek what’s next. Just be patient and keep being curious and open minded and it will come. I wish every success when it does, happiness and reward when it does.

Jason Lee: A shame, but makes perfect sense to be honest, I’m sure he won’t be out of work for long with some new venture, would be interesting to see what role he takes up next though