Sir Gareth Southgate has received a knighthood from Prince William for his services to football, but declined to comment on England's current World Cup prospects when questioned about the matter.
The former England manager was honoured at an investiture ceremony where he was asked to assess the national squad's chances at the upcoming tournament.
Sir Gareth diplomatically sidestepped the question, stating: "What I learned doing the job is it's important that people on the outside respect the space inside, so best that I stay out of the way and let them get on with it."
The 54-year-old resigned from his position following England's 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final last July.
Sir Gareth Southgate received a knighthood today
Reuters
He praised the current squad and coaching staff, describing them as "a brilliant group of players and staff to work with".
Sir Gareth acknowledged their crucial role in his achievements, adding: "I wouldn't be here without everything they contributed and helped me with, so I hope they can go the next step."
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The former manager's comments demonstrate his continued support for the England setup whilst maintaining a respectful distance from Thomas Tuchel's preparations for next year's World Cup.
His reluctance to offer tactical assessments or predictions reflects a deliberate policy of non-interference, allowing the current regime to operate without external commentary from his predecessor.
Reflecting on his eight-year tenure, Sir Gareth described managing England as "an amazing privilege" but admitted he was "not missing that either".
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Gareth Southgate was knighted for his services to football
PA
The former Middlesbrough defender spoke candidly about his time in charge, telling PA: "We've broken down so many barriers to winning. Ultimately we didn't quite get to where we wanted to, but we're in a great position now to take things forward."
His comments suggest a sense of satisfaction with the progress made during his leadership, despite falling short of securing a major trophy.
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The knighthood recognises his transformation of England's fortunes, taking them from international football's periphery to consistent tournament contenders.
Under Southgate's leadership, England ended their 55-year wait for a men's final at Euro 2020, which was delayed by 12 months due to Covid.
The Three Lions were ultimately beaten on penalties by Italy at Wembley in an agonising conclusion to the tournament.
Sir Gareth Southgate ended England''s 55 year wait for a Euro's final
PA
Sir Gareth was succeeded as England manager by Thomas Tuchel, who now faces the challenge of ending what will be a 60-year drought since England's only major honour when the World Cup takes place next year.
The 1966 World Cup victory remains England's sole major tournament triumph, a statistic that Southgate came tantalisingly close to changing during his time in charge.
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