Gareth Southgate exclusive: Jose Mourinho was right - I can do any job in football after being England manager

Gareth Southgate sits down with Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett for a wide-ranging interview. The England manager explains why he will not be daunted by any job once his time with the FA is up, his ambitions for Euro 2024 and the potential of wildcards in the squad

Senior Reporter, Sky Sports News @RobDorsettSky

Sunday 24 December 2023 12:12, UK

I went into the National Football Centre at St George's Park armed with, what I thought, was a red-hot scoop.

One of my best and most secret sources within the FA had tipped me off that the Southgate family love a pantomime. I was primed and ready for the big question.

«Gareth, what's your favourite pantomime?» The England manager looked back at me, bemused.

I needed a quick follow-up: «I've been told that you and your family love a pantomime?»

It was a cool response. «I mean, when I was younger, yes, my dad's company often had a thing to the Pantomime. But no, it would be quite a while since we've been.

»I'm no Widow Twankey!"

Tempted to shout, «Oh, yes he is!» I instead retreated.

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Full credit to Southgate for trying to play along. But in truth, the subject had gone down as well as a cheap Christmas cracker with no banger. Like a soggy sprout. Good start, Rob.

Time to ask about the more serious stuff, then.

«You've created such a unique atmosphere in this England squad. Is there part of you that thinks, 'I want to bring that to a Premier League club at some point in the future?' Is that part of your ambition?»

«I know that I could do that,» Southgate replies, bullishly. «There's