Gareth Southgate says no job in football would “intimidate or daunt” him after managing England.
Southgate has spent years seven years as England manager and his talented team are among the favourites to win Euro 2024 in Germany next summer.
It will be Southgate’s fourth major tournament as England boss and the 53-year-old’s current deal with the Football Association expires next December.
“I was 35 years old when I managed in the Premier League and we finished 12th and 13th,” former Middlesbrough manager Southgate told Sky Sports.
“I knew nothing like what I know now. There isn’t a job in world football that would intimidate or daunt you, having lived this one.
“I remember talking to Jose (Mourinho) when he was at Man United and he said to me: ‘When you’ve done the role you’re in now you’ll be able to do anything really’.
“I thought that was probably right, but seven years into it it’s definitely right. I’m confident in this role and whatever might be in the future.
“Of course I’m not going to be here for 20/30 years and I don’t know what the future will be. I’m very calm about that, but I’m not worried about what that might be.”
Southgate spent three years in charge of Boro between 2006 and 2009 and another four leading the England Under-21 team.
He succeeded Sam Allardyce as England manager in October 2016 and took the Three Lions to the final of Euro 2020, as well as respective semi-final and quarter-final places at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Soutgate said: “Everybody will talk about Middlesbrough, saying ‘he got them relegated’.
“We did in the third year but I had three years of Premier League management and, without doubt in my mind, the first season was the biggest achievement I’ve had.
“To go from captain and player to managing a multi-million pound business in the toughest league of the world at 35, and a par finish from where were we budget-wise.
“You know who’s in the echelon in the table now and that’s difficult.”
England begin their Euro 2024 build-up with Wembley friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March.
Sheffield United go top of Championship with draw despite Ahmedhodzic red
Sheffield United went top of the Championship following their 2-2 draw away to Coventry City despite twice surrendering the lead.
Chris Wilder's side are one point ahead of second-placed Sunderland ahead of Saturday's other matches although, after Tyrese Campbell put them one up after 13 minutes, they would have been hoping for a bigger lead.
Coventry forward Norman Bassette equalised nine minutes later, but Jesurun Rak-Sakyi had the visitors back in front on 34 minutes, having been set up by former Coventry man Gustavo Hamer.
Then came the game-defining incident, with Anel Ahmedhodzic sent off in the 44th minute after grabbing Bassette by his neck and throwing him to the ground. Tempers flared into half-time, but it was the home side who piled on the pressure in the second half.
The managerless Sky Blues got their reward 10 minutes from time through Bobby Thomas, meaning that they have now come back from losing positions to draw in back-to-back matches. They sit 16th in the table.
Elsewhere, Burnley went third after their second straight 1-0 victory as they beat Bristol City on the road. Jaidon Anthony scored the only goal of the game, although the home side created plenty of pressure and saw a penalty claim denied in the second half.
Scott Parker's side, nevertheless, kept their fourth clean sheet in five to get themselves back in the hunt for the top two.
Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough that does neither side many favours in their aim to climb clear of the relegation scrap.
Both goals came within two first-half minutes, with Ollie Tanner getting the visitors ahead from a Callum Robinson rebound in the 34th minute. The lead didn't last long though, with Di'Shon Bernard on hand to scramble home and restore parity almost straight away.
The result leaves Wednesday in 14th, four points above the bottom three, while Cardiff are 19th and just a point above third-bottom Luton Town.
Leicester City 1-2 Chelsea: Jackson and Fernandez mark a happy return for Maresca
Chelsea came through a nervy finish to beat Leicester City 2-1 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Enzo Maresca guided Leicester to promotion last season before switching allegiance to Chelsea, who returned to winning ways after two successive draws in the Premier League.
Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez were on the scoresheet for the Blues as Jordan Ayew’s stoppage-time penalty proved only to be a consolation for the hosts.
The visitors dominated early on and Jackson’s brilliant outside-of-the-foot finish past Mads Hermansen gave them the lead in the 15th minute.
Jackson was involved in Chelsea’s second, too, as his header was saved by Hermansen, only for Fernandez to nod home the rebound in the 75th minute.
Ayew made no mistake from the spot to set up a grandstand finale, but third-place Chelsea held firm to move to within a point of Manchester City, prior to the reigning Premier League champions’ clash with Tottenham later on Saturday, while Leicester dropped down to 16th.
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