Gareth Southgate makes admission over England future amid Man Utd links | Football

The 53-year-old took over the reins from Sam Allardyce in 2016 and guided the national team to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, before missing out on silverware at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

This summer, England enter the European Championships as one of the hot favourites to clinch the title, with Southgate boasting an attack to rival any other in the international game.

However, the Three Lions flattered to deceive in a lacklustre 1-0 defeat to Iceland – a team ranked 72 in the world – in their final warm-up game and Southgate will be hoping for a much-improved performance this weekend as his players kick off their group-stage campaign versus Serbia.

As he prepares to lead England into his fourth major tournament at the helm, Southgate has allowed his contract to run down into its final six months – and the FA are keen for the former Middlesbrough manager to sign an extension.

But speaking to German publication Bild, Southgate – who has been heavily linked with Manchester United – dropped the biggest hint yet that he could be set for a fresh challenge after eight years with England.

‘If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore. Therefore, it might be the last chance,’ Southgate said.

‘I think around half the national coaches leave after a tournament – that’s the nature of international football.

‘I’ve been here for almost eight years now and we’ve come close. You can’t constantly put yourself in front of the public and say, “A little more please”, because at some point people lose faith.

‘If we want to be a great team and I want to be a top coach, you must deliver in  big moments.’