Gareth Southgate proving Gary Lineker right as ex-England boss makes major career change

Gareth Southgate hasn’t returned to football management since quitting as England boss in July 2024, having been unable to deliver a trophy despite reaching two European Championship finals

Former England manager Gareth Southgate has continued his career change away from football – just as Gary Lineker predicted. Southgate, 54, resigned from his role England boss last July after eight ‘special years’ following their gut-wrenching loss to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

It was the second European Championship final which the Three Lions had lost under Southgate, who led England to a semi-final and quarter-final in his two World Cup campaigns. But with only a few months left on his contract, the former Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace star walked away.

In the weeks leading up to the Euros, Southgate had to bat away speculation linking him with the Manchester United job. Former FA chief Dan Ashworth had been appointed as United’s sporting director and reportedly wanted Southgate in charge.

Despite the United job being up for grabs in October, the 54-year-old was never a serious contender. Instead, Southgate, who lives in north Yokrshire with his wife Alison, is using his leadership skills elsewhere.

And he’s given the clearest indication that his days of being a football manager are over. The Sun report that documents for MAS Inv­estment Holdings Limited – the business which handles Southgate’s £6.2million property portfolio – reveal that he’s changed his profession from ‘football manager’ to ‘company director’.

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The change appears to back up Lineker’s prediction after England’s 2-1 loss to Spain. “I suspect this might be his last game in management,” Lineker said on BBC Sport. “What he has brought to this England team is a harmony, a like-ability that I think has re-engaged the English public towards football.”

Since leaving the Wembley dugout, Southgate has written a book titled ‘Dear England: Lessons on Leadership’ which will be punlished later this year. “After stepping down as England manager following eight very special years, I’ve been reflecting on what I have lived through and what comes next,” he explained.

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“Coaching top players and playing against some of the best teams in the world pushed me to operate at the highest level in football. Rather than write a memoir of those times I decided to share my experiences in a different way, through the lens of leadership which I hope will provide lessons for anyone who wants to discover their own authentic leadership style.”

Last month, Southgate took part in the BBC’s annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture and made headlines for his comments about male role models. “These are callous, manipulative and toxic influencers, whose sole drive is for their own gain,” he said.

“They willingly trick young men into believing that success is measured by money or dominance, that strength means never showing emotion, and that the world, including women, is against them.”

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