Southgate swaps dugout for Harvard and BBC docs after England exit

Gareth Southgate has kept himself firmly in the public eye since resigning as England manager on July 16, 2024 — two days after a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final ended his eight-year tenure in charge of the national side.

His exit brought the curtain down on a 102-game reign that took England to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final, but Southgate wasted little time in finding new purpose away from the dugout.

Almost immediately after stepping down, he joined UEFA as a technical observer, a role that keeps him connected to elite European football through the analysis of match data and tactical trends at major continental fixtures. He continues to fulfil that advisory position.

In parallel, Southgate has made a notable move into academia. He has served as a visiting lecturer at Harvard Business School, where his England tenure has been turned into a formal executive leadership case study taught to students at the institution.

His third book arrived in late 2025, and in June 2026 he presented a BBC documentary series examining the mental health, education and societal pressures facing young men in Britain — a subject he has spoken about publicly throughout his managerial career.

When asked about a return to management, Southgate has been measured in his response. He is not actively seeking his next coaching role but has not ruled out the possibility entirely, leaving the door open to opportunities that might arise.

The timing of the renewed interest in Southgate’s post-England life is no coincidence. Thomas Tuchel takes charge of the national team in a major tournament for the first time when England face Croatia in their opening World Cup 2026 Group L match in Texas — a fixture that draws a direct line back to the moment Southgate’s era ended and a new one began.