Gareth in no rush for dugout return

FORMER England boss Sir Gareth Southgate says he is not actively looking at a return to management and was puzzled to see himself linked with the Poland job over the summer.

- By SIMON PEACH

It is 13 months since the former defender called time on his successful eight-year stint as national team boss in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain in Berlin.

Southgate led England to back-to-back European Championship finals, as well as runs to the World Cup semifinals and quarterfinals, after stepping up from the under-21s role in 2016. The 54-year-old suggested during his time out of the game that his next job could be away from football and says he is in no rush to return to the dugout.

"I’m enjoying my life," Southgate said. "I've got quite a lot on.