SportFootballGareth SouthgateIt has been two years since Gareth Southgate left the England job and those around him get a sense of how he feels following the Three Lions World Cup exit13:37, 18 Jul 2026Gareth Southgate's friends sense that he does feel undervalued after his spell in management, according to reports, as his absence from the game extends to two years.‌The former England boss has enjoyed a watching berth since leaving in the wake of the loss in the final of Euro 2024 - the second final he'd lost in the space of three years.‌Southgate though was the man to begin the Three Lions' renaissance when he led them to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018. Across the three tournaments that followed he would make two finals and a quarter-final before departing.‌During that tenure he did cop criticism for not being able to have the in-game impact that his elite counterparts did whilst some also cited favourable draws as key to his achievements.The Telegraph reports that there is a sense among those close to him that his work doesn't get the appreciation it deserves. He helped unearth a new generation of players and, despite Thomas Tuchel being cited as a level up, the German has been unable to better his World Cup semi-final.In fact several of the flaws that were associated with Southgate, such as a defensive approach and an inability to control games, are now being levelled at Tuchel after England blew their 1-0 lead over Argentina on Wednesday night.‌Southgate remains a man out of a managerial gig, but is by no means without things to occupy him as the 55-year-old enjoys several engagements away from football.There has been talk of him taking charge at Manchester United, the club he supported as a boy. Whilst that would be a dream job Southgate believes he needs to prove himself if he's to land an elite job and Michael Carrick's appointment may have closed that avenue.‌He was initially linked when Dan Ashworth, who worked with him at England, was in a senior role at Old Trafford. Ashworth has since been moved on but that hasn't stopped the speculation as and when the job becomes available.Southgate's only club role has been with Middlesbrough and he's spoken about a desire to change the narrative having presided over the club's relegation.Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Article continues belowContent cannot be displayed without consentChoose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Gareth SouthgateEngland football team