Gareth Southgate to make shock return to football, replacing fan-favourite: report

England manager Gareth Southgate speaks to the press after his side's Euro 2024 semi-final win over the Netherlands.
Gareth Southgate may find offers forthcoming this summer (Image credit: Getty Images)

Gareth Southgate could find his next job offer forthcoming after departing the post as England manager following his side’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final earlier this month.

England reached their second European Championship final under Southgate’s command this summer but fell to a 2-1 defeat in the final in Berlin thanks to goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal, with Cole Palmer’s equaliser from the bench proving in vain.

Southgate subsequently resigned from his job, which remains vacant as the FA look to recruit a successor who can take them to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

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Gareth Southgate faces rival bids for services

Former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough centre-back Southgate will also be considering his future, and The Sun report that the BBC and ITV alike are considering making him an offer to swap the dugout for a TV studio for the new campaign ahead.

Match of the Day is a pundit short after Ian Wright decided to call it a day on the flagship Premier League highlights programme at the end of last season.

The former Arsenal striker explained: “I’m getting older, I just want to make sure I use the time well and efficiently for myself and at the moment, Match of the Day is the one that if something had to go, it had to be that.”

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright looks on prior to the FA Cup Semi Final match between Manchester City and Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium on April 22, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Ian Wright has left Match of the Day (Image credit: Getty Images)

ITV would meanwhile see Southgate’s acquisition as a coup having secured the rights to every England men’s match outside major tournaments from this September through to summer 2028.

That will include all of their qualifying games for the next World Cup and Euros, plus their Nations League games and friendlies, for a total of at least 40 games over the next four years.

Southgate has worked as a pundit and co-commentator for ITV before, lending his insight to their FA Cup and Champions League coverage.

Gareth Southgate walks past the European Championship trophy after England's defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

Southgate stepped down after Euro 2024 (Image credit: Getty Images)

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Steven Chicken

Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.