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Sir Gareth Southgate has made clear that he is not pursuing a return to football management, pointing out that it would be challenging to recreate the higher calling he felt as head of the Three Lions.

The former coach indicated his plan to dedicate his efforts toward supporting the youth and countering what he called a dominant downbeat story currently prevalent in the country.

Pursuing New Avenues Away from Football

Speaking on air, Southgate was asked about rumors linking him with vacant management roles in the English football and abroad.

“Leading my country gave my work in football a deeper meaning and purpose,” he responded. “That’s going to be very hard to replicate. Having had 37 years in football I’m enjoying finding other areas where I think I might be able to make a difference.”

A Passion for Role Models

Ahead of the publication of his new title, Dear England: Lessons in Leadership, the author shared that he is highly enthusiastic about setting examples for teenagers, utilizing insights from his tenure as head coach of the national side between 2016 and 2024, as well as his personal family life.

Southgate believes that his time leading the national team, during which the team shifted from being strongly criticized to broadly loved, holds broader applications.

“We had a huge disconnect with the public when we started,” he explained. “People saw us as high-ego players but we were able to turn that around. I saw the power that the team had to bring people together of every community.”

Raising Children and Guiding Young People

Drawing on his family life, the coach observed: “Every parent aims to provide a solid foundation, yet there comes a time when children stop heeding parental advice. I’ve faced this at home, just like others, and I believe this area is critically important.”

He continued: “Currently, a pessimistic story dominates national discourse, and we must offer youth optimism and direction. The country is full of potential, but young individuals require positive influences and supportive peers, as these choices shape their futures profoundly.”

Togetherness Beyond Division

Southgate asserted that “what brings the nation together outweighs what pulls it apart” but that the public discourse often highlights conflict.

“One can see why many feel disillusioned,” he commented. “Economically lots of places are in tough situations now and that’s going to prompt desires for change. But I have seen the ability to unite the country. I saw during Covid people doing shopping for the neighbours and that’s when we as a nation are at our best, when we’ve been pushed into a corner and come out and shown resilience.”

His forthcoming book, the book Dear England, is expected to present deeper reflections on management and country pride based on his distinguished professional journey.