Gareth Southgate teases dramatic career switch out of football after period of 'reflection' – on back of managing England for eight years

Gareth Southgate has dangled the prospect of his next job being outside of football.

The former England boss revealed he has been reflecting hard and is ‘contemplating a change of direction’ because he wants a ‘higher purpose’ in his work. 

Southgate, 54, left the England job in July after eight years and four major tournaments, reaching two European finals but falling short to Italy and Spain.

He had been linked with the Manchester United job over the summer before Erik ten Hag was kept on and, this month, Ruben Amorim was appointed as his successor. 

‘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,’ Southgate wrote in a post on LinkedIn. 

‘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.

He stepped down from the Three Lions in July after losing his second Euros final with the side

Now he wants to find a job which matches the ‘higher purpose’ he had in the England top role

‘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.

‘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 50-something contemplating a change of direction.’

Among other charity work, Southgate is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and is an ambassador for children’s hospice Martin House in Boston Spa. 

Stepping out of the game entirely after managing England is certainly a rare move.

You have to go back to Roy Greenwood in 1982 to find a former England boss who decides to leave football management behind – and even he switched to punditry. 

It is rare for a manager to leave football without taking another job after the England one

All the same, Southgate is ‘contemplating a change of direction’ to find fulfilment in his work

All of the 11 permanent managers to have left since, besides Southgate, have gone on to take another management job in the game.

However, it should not come completely as a surprise. Speaking at the European Club Association Assembly in October, he said he would at least be taking a break to contemplate his options. 

‘I won’t coach in the next year, for sure. I’m certain of that,’ he said. 

‘I need to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come out of a really big role you need to give your body time, you need to give your mind time.’