Gareth Southgate still thinks he has something to prove in management but will not regard the European Under-21 Championship as his grand audition for the England job.
Southgate named a provisional 27-man England Under-21 squad for the tournament on Wednesday.
After reducing that party to 23 and taking on Belarus in a farewell match in Barnsley on June 11, Southgate and his squad will fly to the Czech Republic for the competition, which runs from June 17-30.
After a near-perfect qualifying campaign, England's young stars have a chance to prove they can cut it at an international tournament, but the fortnight in central European nation will also give Southgate another chance to show he can be a top manager.
"Absolutely, there is something (for me) to prove," the England Under-21 manager said.
"I'd like to be considered as a good coach, and a top coach."
Such phrases were used to describe Southgate when he first went into management with Middlesbrough at the age of 36.
Although he did not have his UEFA Pro Licence when he took the job, Southgate soon earned his badges and enjoyed a decent first season at the club, finishing 12th in the Barclays Premier League.
The following year Southgate took the club down and a couple of months into the following season he was sacked.
Only four years later did Southgate return to management, with the Young Lions.
At Southgate's unveiling, Football Association technical director Dan Ashworth hinted the former Aston Villa centre-half could be a possible successor to England manager Roy Hodgson if he was successful with the Young Lions.
But when asked about the possibility of succeeding Hodgson, whose contract expires next year, a relaxed Southgate said: "I want to be respected as a coach. But I genuinely don't think, 'What is the next thing?'.
"My experiences at Middlesbrough tell me you can't decide what your career path is going to be - there are too many uncontrollables."
Southgate is understood to have admirers right at the top of the FA and the bookmakers currently regard the 44-year-old as favourite for the post.
But instead of pushing his candidacy he is selflessly trying to develop the careers of his would-be rivals so the FA does not decide to go foreign again.
"Part of the role here is working in coach education and we invite other young coaches to join us," Southgate said at a press conference at St George's Park.
"You would hope that in three, four or five years time or whenever the manager's job comes up, that there is a good pool of coaches and people do not think there is a dearth of English coaches.
"(Bournemouth manager) Eddie Howe is going to get a lot of attention because of where he is and it is a fantastic story but we want six, seven or eight people to be in contention. We don't want there to be one obvious candidate."
Southgate's predecessor Stuart Pearce was regarded as a candidate to replace Hodgson until a woeful European Championship in Israel ended his chances two years ago.
Pearce had lost just once in qualifying, but when it came to the tournament its self, his team flopped spectacularly, losing all three matches.
The Young Lions failed to score a goal from open play during that tournament, but looking at the strikers in the current squad,
Southgate should not encounter similar problems.
Harry Kane, Saido Berahino and Danny Ings have 60 clubs goals between them this season.
Kane will go to the tournament as England's "pin-up", according to Southgate, but Berahino scored 10 times in qualifying and will play an important role in the Czech Republic.
"Harry (Kane) is a top, top technical finisher and Saido is equally as good in terms of technique with either foot," Southgate said.
Source: PA
