Gareth Southgate to QUIT football? Ex-England manager reveals future plans in LinkedIn post detailing desire to rediscover 'purpose'

Southgate left the England job after the Three Lions lost to Spain in the final of Euro 2024. Since that decision, he has been linked with a number of potential openings, including Manchester United before they appointed Ruben Amorim, but he has now suggested, in a post on LinkedIn, that he is considering a career change.

Southgate spent a total of eight years in the role as England manager, having been promoted to the role in 2016, having worked with the Under-21s between 2013 and 2016. He had worked as Middlesbrough manager between 2006 and 2009 prior to that, but that may well end up being his only club job if he does leave football altogether.

In a lengthy post on LinkedIn, Southgate wrote: "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. 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.

"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."

It remains to be seen. Southgate has clearly not made his decision but the England team is moving on after his exit, with Thomas Tuchel set to take charge in 2025.