Sir Gareth Southgate reflects on receiving PFA award that made him feel old

Sir Gareth Southgate said it was special to receive recognition from players after he and Emma Hayes were named as the recipients of the 2025 Professional Footballers’ Association merit award.

Southgate attended a gala dinner in Manchester on Tuesday to receive the award, which came after he guided England to consecutive European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024 as well as the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup during an eight-year spell in charge that ended last summer.

Speaking to the PA news agency at the presentation, Southgate said: “It’s lovely to be recognised by the players because the last 10 years in particular, how the players felt has been really important to me.

“Getting an award like this makes you realise you’re getting old but other than that everything’s good.”

Southgate has not worked in management since leaving the England job after Euro 2024, despite being linked with several potential roles. The 54-year-old said he had not closed the door on a return, but did not sound like a man in a hurry to get back into a dugout.

“I’m enjoying my life,” he said. “I’ve got quite a lot on. I’m in the middle of writing a book, I’ve got several interests.

“I do work on leadership, helping some young coaches. But I’ve also got time to travel and play a bit of golf and a bit of paddle tennis. I’m very much enjoying that balance.

“You can’t say never to anything because 15 years ago I left Middlesbrough and I wasn’t sure I would manage then and I ended up on a strange path into managing the national team. But it’s not something I’m actively looking at at the moment.”

A statement from the PFA announcing Southgate’s award read: “He is widely credited with breathing new life into the national team by integrating a new generation of young talent.

“He has overseen a period of unrivalled achievement by the men’s national team, and has been an outstanding ambassador for the game – forging genuine connection between the country, the supporters, and the players.”

Wrexham defender Conor Coady, part of Southgate’s squad at Euro 2020, was also at Tuesday’s awards and praised his former boss as “an incredible man and incredible person”.

“I think what he’s done for England and where he took England to was outstanding,” Coady told PA. “As a person, I could speak about good people all day and he is one of them.

“What he’s done for me individually, what he’s done for the a team when I was part of the England setup was absolutely amazing. He fully deserves everything he gets.”

Hayes was honoured by the PFA for her contributions to women’s football. As Chelsea manager, Hayes guided the Blues to seven Women’s Super League titles – including five in succession – as well as winning the FA Cup five times and the League Cup twice.

Hayes left Chelsea in the summer of 2024 to become head coach of the United States women’s team, with her side going on to win gold at the Paris Olympics.

“Beyond on-pitch success, it is Hayes’ approach to leadership and relentless innovation that has paved the way for progress in women’s sport,” the PFA said.