Former England manager Gareth Southgate says he won’t coach next year

ATHENS – Former England manager Gareth Southgate said on Thursday he would take a year out from club or national team duty, after speculation he could be a target for Manchester United.

“I won’t be coaching next year, that’s for sure. I’m sure of it,” Southgate said in an on-stage interview in front of an audience of hundreds of football officials at a meeting of the European Club Association.

Southgate resigned from his England post in July, two days after losing in the European Championship final for the second tournament in a row. England lost 2-1 to Spain in Berlin, three years after losing the title match to Italy on penalties at their home Wembley Stadium in London.

His eight years in the role transformed England’s record and reputation in international football, also reaching the semi-finals and quarter-finals at consecutive World Cups.

Criticized by some fans for being too cautious, Southgate was praised for making his players enjoy being with the national team again, shielding them from criticism and being a thoughtful commentator on social issues during a period of polarization in British society.

“I have to give myself time to make good decisions,” Southgate said. “I’m fortunate that there are a lot of opportunities that present themselves.”

Southgate has distanced himself even before Euro 2024 from speculation that he could be a target for Man United, who have made a poor start to the season under manager Erik ten Hag.

“Clubs can only be successful if everything is aligned throughout the club,” said Southgate, whose previous club management experience was at Middlesbrough, for three years after finishing play there in 2006.

“And I also know that maybe the smartest people sit in the meeting rooms and the coaches are a little more useless than you think when you’re there,” he said.

The 54-year-old former England defender said he was “at an age where I want to work with good people” and was interested in the business side of football.

“I don’t just want to be a coach moving forward,” Southgate said, adding that he had been asked to speak at Harvard.

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AP Football: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer