Southgate Rules Out Premier League Return, Calls Manchester City Case 'No Winners'
Gareth Southgate says he does not see himself managing in the Premier League again and describes the Manchester City financial charges case as damaging to football with no winners.
Gareth Southgate has stated he does not envision a return to club management in the Premier League. The former England manager, 56, has been out of work since resigning after leading England to the Euro 2024 final, where they lost to Spain. He previously managed Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2009.
Speaking on The Amol Rajan Connection, Southgate explained that his desire to be involved in football has waned. He said that towards the end of his England tenure he stopped enjoying wins, and that by the end he did not enjoy them for more than a couple of minutes. He added that he has hardly watched football since, and has not visited a ground since attending the FA Cup final to see Crystal Palace win their first trophy.
When asked directly about a Premier League return, Southgate replied that he does not see a scenario where he would do that. Since leaving England, he has worked in the media, fronted a BBC documentary on challenges facing young men and boys, and been a visiting lecturer at Harvard Business School. He described the last 18 months as enjoyable, saying he has loved having different experiences and playing a different film in his life.
Southgate also commented on Manchester City's financial regulations case. Last month, an independent commission found City guilty of the majority of charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18, including arranging sham contracts and relying on sham agreements to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs. The club deny any wrongdoing and submitted an appeal on 2 October.
Southgate said there will be a tribal fans' response to punish Manchester City as much as possible, but he believes none of this is good for football and there are no winners. He noted the complexity of the case, referencing his experience in football boardrooms and meetings with Uefa and Fifa, and pointed to the possibility of further legal cases and the difficulty of determining the right punishment while keeping the game on track.
Supporters' reactions to Southgate's comments have been mixed, with some agreeing that the case is damaging and others expressing frustration at the ongoing uncertainty.
Image: AFP via Getty Images / BBC Sport
