Gareth Southgate Breaks The Silence Amid Rumors Of Being Manchester United's Manager

Gareth Southgate is more interested in acting outside managers and outside England (Instagram/@england).

JAKARTA - Gareth Southgate opened his voice about rumors of becoming a strong candidate for Manchester United manager replacing Erik ten Hag.

The former England national team manager confirmed that he would not lead the Red Devils, for at least the next 12 months.

Southgate has decided to look for work outside the UK and not a team's management.

"First of all I enjoyed my life. So, I'm not in a hurry. I've been fully committed to the FA for 11 years and I have a lot of different experiences."

"However, I will not train next year, of course. I am sure of that. I need to give myself time to make a good decision."

"When you get out of a huge role, you need to give your body time, you need to give time to your mind," Southgate said after a meeting of the European Club Association assembly in Athens on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

Southgate explained that in the near future he did not want to consider the work of other national teams. He wants to find a role outside the team manager.

"I'm lucky because there are many different opportunities that arise. The side of the football business is very interesting."

"In my role, I have dealt with UEFA and FIFA, having to deal with many different stakeholders."

"So, I'm not just determined to be a coach to move forward. Of course I have had an extraordinary experience."

"However, to have a project that comes from the heart, which comes from the national team, it will be difficult to find," said Southgate as reported by The Sun.

Furthermore, Southgate also revealed the reason for not taking a job as a manager of a club or national team for the time being.

According to him, club managers or national teams are complicated jobs with great risks.

"I was at the age where I wanted to work with good people. When I was young, you might try hard and be a little more obedient. When you grow up, you realize the importance of collaboration."

"The club can only be successful if everything is in line, across the club. I also know that maybe people who are smarter off sitting in the meeting room. Coaches are a little more omittable than you thought when you were there."

"As a coach, you feel like the most important person. I sit in every meeting room in our country for eight years. I realize that you are just a small part of this whole thing," Southgate said again.

The day after Jurgen Klopp announced his new role as Head of Global Football Red Bull, Southgate hinted that he might be persuaded by a similar offer.

"If you ask about club football, it depends on what role it is, what might happen."

"I'm lucky to be working with the fantastic players and the biggest few nights in the world of football."

"You have to have the passion, passion to work every day. For me, it can't happen in other national federations."

"The problem is, once again, England is the right place to play. At first I went there to help English football, not to be the first team coach."

"However, in the football business, the experience I have at work is very wide."

"I'm 54 years old. I want to enjoy and really be motivated for the next 10-15 years of my life."

"The most important thing is to give myself time to make a good decision," said the 54-year-old.