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Gareth Southgate says family life keeps him sane... just don’t mention Love Island to the England manager

Family man | Gareth Southgate at an FA Lidl Skills session: Paul Thomas/PA Wire
Family man | Gareth Southgate at an FA Lidl Skills session: Paul Thomas/PA Wire

Gareth Southgate says spending time with his family keeps him relaxed as England manager - but he draws the line at being forced to watch Love Island.

The football boss, 46, said his teenage children were hooked on ITV2’s reality show and in recent weeks he has had to “tear myself away” from the family TV because he couldn’t “stomach” it.

Since signing his four-year deal in November, he has juggled being a husband and father with his goal of transforming the Three Lions squad into “the best team in the world” before the World Cup in Russia next year.

But he hasn’t wanted the job to stop him spending time with his wife Alison, daughter Mia, 18, and son Flynn, 14, over the summer holidays.

Asked how he relaxes away from the pitch, he told the Standard: “If I could stomach what my kids have been watching for the last two weeks, then I would have been watching Love Island. But I drew myself away from that and have managed to tear myself away from it because I don’t think I could stomach it.

“Over the last couple of weeks I’ve just had a nice time spending it with the family though, and for me that’s important because my kids are 18 and 14, and their development is as important for me as anything else in my life.

“You do have to try to find a balance because my focus inevitably gets drawn towards making this team as successful as we can and driving them to be the best team in the world, but I’m also a dad and a husband.

“But it’s a privilege to be in the role ... I don’t see it as pressure, I’m enjoying it - it’s a role of importance but everyone gets pressure, don’t they?”

Southgate started his career in Crystal Palace’s youth squad in the Eighties before leading the senior team to the 1993/94 First Division title as captain. He said he believes in the power of football in deprived areas - such as near the south London club - to stop young people being drawn into crime.

He said: “I guess I wasn’t probably as aware of it when I was playing then as I am now. Because I coach, you become more aware of everything, you see a much broader picture of difficulties that are there for young people.

“Sports clubs and youth clubs have always been an opportunity to engage with young people and to provide an environment that can give them a different pathway in life. Growing up isn’t easy for a start anyway, but growing up in difficult areas where positive role models are short and where there are other influential figures around that can take you down a different path, it’s difficult not to get drawn into that.

“Football can be the catalyst for changing people’s lives and giving them engagement to feel good about their lives in a different way.”

Asked if he knew players for which the game was a lifeline, he said: “Yes, there are one or two pros that are playing now at Premier League clubs that are similar I think.” Southgate was speaking at West Riding County Football Association, on the outskirts of Leeds, where his playing and coaching skills were put to the test by primary school children taking part in an FA Lidl Skills coaching day. The scheme is run in schools and during the holidays at centres across the UK.

Gareth Southgate supports the FA Lidl Skills coaching programme for boys and girls aged five to 11. Lead Partner supermarket Lidl is offering customers free football coaching. For details visit Lidl.co.uk/football