Gareth Southgate has hinted he may have quit football management for good - four months on from England's heartbreaking Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
The Three Lions lost 2-1 back in July as their hopes of winning a first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup went up in smoke.
Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal struck for La Roja in Germany, with Cole Palmer netting or England on the night.
Southgate was linked with the Manchester United job back in the summer, only for the fallen giants to stick with Erik ten Hag.
Gareth Southgate has hinted he may have quit football management for good - four months on from England's heartbreaking Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain
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His name was thrown into the hat once again when Ten Hag was axed at the end of last month - but the Red Devils decided to go for Ruben Amorim instead.
Crystal Palace have also been backed to move for Southgate amid a difficult start to the season.
But the former England boss has now suggested he's ready to walk away from management completely to pursue a new challenge instead.
Writing on Linkedin, Southgate said: "Coaching top players was a challenge that pushed me to operate at the very highest level.
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"The weight of the role with the unique responsibility it carried was something few ever get to experience.
"Perhaps the hardest thing of all to replicate though, is going to be the sense of purpose.
“Every morning I drove through the gates of St George’s Park, I had a responsibility to improve English football.
"Whenever the National Anthem played pre- game, I was representing 50 million people, their hopes and dreams.
“When I travelled, or spoke publicly I had a duty to be an ambassador for my country.
"Even in the most difficult moments, whether after heartbreaking defeats or during tense media scrutiny I was acutely aware of the need to stand with dignity and demonstrate strong leadership.
“This was not only for the players and staff beside me but also for the millions of young people watching, who might find inspiration and hope in what we do.
“This higher purpose kept me on track, gave me structure, made my life more fulfilling and is going to be extremely difficult to replicate.
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Gareth Southgate was left crushed after England missed out on Euro 2024 glory back in the summer
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“It’s why I’m not limiting my future options to remaining as a football coach."
Southgate then added: “As part of working out what comes next, I’ve really enjoyed picking the brains of some outstanding people. By offering them a blank canvas great conversations have developed and a flow of ideas I’d never contemplated. (Honestly, joining LinkedIn was not the sum total…!) It’s shown me the importance of a good network and the power of getting different perspectives.
“I’m comfortable with this period of ‘exploration’ and not having all the answers.
"I’m following the advice I would give to any young person, without a clear career vision. Keep learning, build or explore your network, seek different life experiences and when you decide what’s next, there will be no right or wrong, just one path or another.
“For now, I’m finding my required purpose within all that being able to dial up the days supporting my chosen charities.
Gareth Southgate guided England to finals of two major tournaments during his time in the dugout
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“I’m not the only 50something contemplating a change of direction.
"An article in The Times last week said that a third of the current 45 to 54 year old working cohort expects to change careers before they retire.
"Finding purpose appears to be a major driver behind these numbers.
“So if you’re at a similar crossroads I wish you well. It’s my intention to identify people I want to work with and projects and passions I want to work on.
"I will be putting purpose high on my list of considerations, because in those difficult moments we all face, the purpose will keep us going.”
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