Gareth Southgate has ruled out a return to Premier League club management and says he cannot see a scenario where it happens. The 56-year-old has been out of management since resigning as England boss after Euro 2024, and the last 18 months away from the dugout have clearly changed how he looks at the game.

Southgate's view of football now

Speaking to BBC Sport, Southgate said: "I've loved the last 18 months of my life."

He added that, towards the end of his time with England, he stopped enjoying wins for long and has hardly watched football since. Southgate said he went to the FA Cup final to see his team, Crystal Palace, win their first trophy, and has not been to a football ground since. He also said his sense of self had been tied to results for 37 years, but that he has enjoyed a different kind of life since leaving the job.

That feels like the important context here. Southgate is not speaking like a man waiting for the right offer. He sounds content being away from the weekly cycle that defines club management, and he has been consistent about that in the interview.

The Manchester City case remains open

Southgate also turned to the Manchester City case, which concerns alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. He said: "There'll be the tribal fans' response to punish Manchester City as much as we can, relegate them, fine them, do whatever you can."

He then warned that the issue is bigger than the instinct for instant punishment. "My underlying thought is none of this is good for football and there are no winners," he said, before adding that there could be different legal cases and that it could still take a long time.

Manchester City denied any wrongdoing and submitted an appeal on 2 October. The club's current form shows why the off-field case is being argued against a strong footballing backdrop too, with 18 Premier League points from 6 matches, 16 goals scored and only 5 conceded.

Southgate's position is clear enough. He is done with the Premier League dugout, and on City he is closer to the view that the process is still unfolding than to any rush to judgement.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →