Gareth Southgate admits he does not miss managing England after receiving knighthood

Sir Gareth Southgate has admitted he doesn’t miss managing England and no longer feels the weight that came with leading the national team.

The 54-year-old stepped down from the role last summer after England were beaten by Spain in the Euro 2024 final, ending his seven-and-a-half-year tenure with another runners-up medal.

Southgate also guided the team to a fourth-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia – their best showing at the tournament since 1990.

Despite those achievements, the former Middlesbrough boss says he is content watching from a distance.

“It is a little bit strange [watching the team] but also I’m not missing it,” Southgate said to BBC Sport.

“I think it’s important that I am on that sofa and out of their way, you know. It’s theirs to take on now and I think it’s important that I give the team as much space as possible.”

Southgate was knighted this week for his contributions to English football, becoming only the fourth England manager to receive such an honour, following in the footsteps of Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.

Reflecting on the pressures of the job, Southgate said it’s only now, after stepping away, that he truly realises how consuming it was.

Former England boss Gareth Southgate has received a knighthood 🎖 pic.twitter.com/Lq77tVGGLI

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 25, 2025

“I think it’s hard to describe because until that weight’s gone you don’t necessarily realise just on a day-to-day basis, you know, every hour of my day was thinking about how do I make England better, what’s happening with the players, how do we do things differently,” he added.

“So I think [that like] any leader of big organisations, you’re constantly thinking about how to do your job as well as you can.”

After Southgate’s departure, Thomas Tuchel was appointed as his permanent successor, following a short interim spell by Lee Carsley.

Tuchel has made a perfect start in World Cup qualifying but faced criticism from supporters after England suffered a friendly defeat to Senegal at the City Ground.

Upon taking the job, Tuchel claimed that Southgate’s England side “did not have a clear identity” and said they “were more afraid to drop out [of Euro 2024] than having the excitement and hunger to win it.”

When asked about those comments, Southgate refused to engage in a war of words.

“I don’t think it’s important how I took it [Tuchel’s criticism] or what I think,” he said.

“I think what’s really important is for me to give the team, the manager, the space to operate. I think that’s the right thing to do.

“I’ve had an amazing experience leading my country, but it’s time for them to take it forward now and I’ll be a fan at home supporting it.”

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