Gareth Southgate Admits He Stopped Enjoying Wins

• Southgate says the pressure stripped joy from victories
• Rules out a Premier League return to management
• Reflects on life after leading England to major finals

Southgate’s Candid Admission

Gareth Southgate has lifted the lid on the toll of the England job, admitting that, by the end, even victories barely registered. Speaking to the BBC’s Amol Rajan, the former Three Lions boss reflected on how the grind and expectation wore him down in the final stretch of his near eight-year reign.

Since stepping away after the EURO 2024 final defeat to Spain, Southgate has kept his distance from the touchline. It comes clear in the interview that Southgate hardly watched any football and hasn’t set foot in a stadium since attending the FA Cup final as a spectator. Tellingly, he can’t see himself returning to a club dugout. In his words, he doesn’t envisage a scenario where he takes a Premier League job, and given he hasn’t managed at club level since Middlesbrough (2006–09), that tracks. As ever, if you follow the game closely, or even keep an eye on the best football betting sites — you’ll know Southgate’s stance will split opinion.

The record, though, is hardly up for debate. Southgate presided over more than 100 England matches, reached two EURO finals (2020 and 2024), and took the team to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and a quarter-final in 2022. By any fair measure, he’s England’s most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, but the relentless demand for silverware clearly drained the joy from the job.

What Next for the Former England Boss?

For now, he’s leaning into a different rhythm: media work, a BBC documentary exploring the challenges facing young men and boys, and conversations with leaders from politics and business. He describes the last 18 months as a revelation. A reset after 37 years of living week to week on results.

Reading between the lines, this doesn’t sound like a short breather before the next big gig. International advisory roles, leadership projects, or high-profile media work feel more likely than a return to the day-to-day chaos of the Premier League. And frankly, after carrying the weight of a nation to within touching distance of history twice, you can understand why the former gaffer fancies some air in his lungs.

Latest Football News