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

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.”

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.

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