Former England manager Gareth Southgate admitted that he ‘didn’t enjoy the wins’ towards the end of his time in charge of the national team.
Southgate, who has been out of work since stepping down as England boss following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, has spent time away from the sport and ‘doesn’t see’ himself returning to management with a Premier League club.
He has not managed at club level since spending three years with Middlesbrough from 2006 and it seems unlikely that he will move back into the game.
Speaking on The Amol Rajan Connection, Southgate was asked if he is considering a return to management in the Premier League and he responded: "I don't see a scenario where I do that."
More revealing were Southgate’s thoughts on the end of his England tenure.
Southgate managed the Three Lions for over 100 games across a near-eight year spell and took the national team to two European Championship finals (2020 and 2024) and the World Cup semi-final (2018) and quarter-final (2022).
He was England’s most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey but admitted that the pressure to win trophies and continue taking the team forward took its toll.
"Towards the end of my time with England, I stopped enjoying, at the very least for a period, the wins keep you going,” Southgate revealed.
"By the end, I didn't even enjoy the wins for any longer than a couple of minutes. So, I've hardly watched football.
"I went to the FA Cup final to see my team, Crystal Palace, win their first trophy. I've not been to a football ground since. So my sort of desire to be involved in football has changed."
Since moving on from England, Southgate has worked in the media and fronted a BBC documentary where he travelled across the UK to understand challenges facing young men and boys.
"I've loved the last 18 months of my life," he added.
"I've had 37 years where my sense of self depended on did I win or lose on Saturday. And actually I've loved having different experiences.
“I've met politicians, I've met people in the media industry, I have learned about leadership in all sorts of areas, I've travelled around the world learning things.
"I've just enjoyed playing a different film in my life."