Update: Gareth Southgate makes dramatic ‘change’ after missing out on Man United job News

Former England head coach Gareth Southgate departed the national team the day after the Three Lions lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain

Former England manager and one-time Manchester United-hopeful Gareth Southgate has reportedly taken a decision to distance himself from football.

Southgate, who led England to the final of two European Championships and the semi-final of the World Cup, has been out of work since the tournament in Germany. In the aftermath of that defeat, the former Middlesbrough defender was linked with a move to Old Trafford should Erik ten Hag have been sacked.

Ten Hag managed to hold onto his position at Old Trafford until October when he was ultimately fired. Southgate was briefly linked with United again but this time it became clear that he was not interested in a return to management this season and that Ineos had their heart set on Ruben Amorim.

Now, according to The Sun, Southgate has distanced himself further still from football management by changing his job title. According to documents held by MAS Inv­estment Holdings Limited – the business that handles Southgate’s £6.2m property portfolio – the 54-year-old is now a ‘company director’.

Southgate, whose agent Jimmy Worrall previously worked as a consultant for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, has kept himself in the public eye since leaving the England set-up. He is a technical observer for UEFA, a job held by many out-of-work managers and has also spoken as a visiting lecturer for Harvard Business School in the US.

It is also thought that Southgate is in the midst of writing a leadership self-help book. In October, shortly before United parted ways with Ten Hag, the Englishman announced that he was taking a year away from management to focus on his personal projects.

“I’m fortunate that there are lots of different opportunities that are presenting themselves,” he explained. “The business side of football is really interesting.

“I’ve been invited to speak at Harvard and there’s lots of exciting life experiences to have. I’m 54 and want to enjoy and be really motivated for the next 10 to 15 years of my life and the most important thing is to give myself time to make good decisions.”

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