Gareth Southgate admitted he was not ready to replace Roy Hodgson following Euro 2016, though the England Under-21 manager is open to taking charge of the senior team in the future.
Southgate was reportedly the frontrunner to fill the void left by Hodgson after England s last-16 exit at the European Championships, before Sam Allardyce was eventually appointed.
The 46-year-old and former Middlesbrough boss, however, conceded it would have been too early in his career to manage England.
I can see the logic in terms of the odds but it wasn t a route I felt I was ready to take. I m pretty clear on what I m comfortable with but also I know to take that role wasn t something I think I ve got the experience for,” he said.
I think it s one of the ultimate jobs and you want every skill set possible when you go into it. Sam obviously has years and years of experience.
I m fiercely ambitious, there s no question about that, so I wouldn t want it to be seen that I m not. I m also clear on where I am and I know how far I ve come since I left Middlesbrough [in 2009].
I think with England there are one or two other things that I would want to have had experience of before I took that role. To be going into it from a real position of strength, maybe that happens in the future, maybe it doesn t?
