Leicester City next manager: Gareth Southgate’s stance on ‘huge’ appointment revealed
Gareth Southgate has no plans to return to management any time soon despite surprising links with the vacant position at Leicester City.
Leicester parted ways with Marti Cifuentes following their defeat to Oxford United last month, and are assessing a number of candidates to come in as his replacement.
Southgate had been tipped by some outlets to take over at the King Power Stadium, with the former England boss still without a job after leaving the role in 2024.
However, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, the 55-year-old is not currently interested in a return to club management.
Meanwhile, the turbulent situation and ongoing relegation battle at Leicester as a result of their recent points deduction has made the position a hard sell.
Gareth Southgate ruled out of Leicester City running
Suggestions that Southgate could be in the running for the Leicester job came as a surprise given the Foxes’ current position both on and off the pitch.
He has previously been ruled out of the running for the likes of Man United and Crystal Palace, so a move to a struggling Championship side would have been a shock.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “I don’t think there’s any possibility that Gareth Southgate could return to management with Leicester.
“As we’ve spoken previously, I don’t think he’s in any rush to get back into the managerial hot seat. He’s enjoying what he’s doing right now.
“That Leicester job is a huge job.
“Whoever does take it, they’re now in a relegation dogfight in the championship following that points deduction that they’ve got.
“There’s a lot of issues at Leicester on and off the field right now as well so it’s a real difficult job for whoever does take it.
“But yeah, Gareth Southgate, if he was to return to management, I think he’d be looking probably at bigger job than that.”
Who else is in the running for the Leicester City job?
Other candidates for the vacant Leicester job include the likes of Sean Dyche, who has just been sacked by Nottingham Forest as they hope to avoid relegation.
Former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has also been tipped for a return to English football, having been dismissed from his role at Wolfsburg in 2025.
Steven Gerrard may also be an option for the Foxes, as he eyes a return to management despite having turned down the Rangers job last year.
The Foxes have been dragged into a relegation battle by their points deduction, and are currently only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Just six points are separating 23rd-placed Oxford from 19th-placed West Brom, and Leicester’s next appointment will be crucial to their survival.
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