Former Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb wants his next challenge to be in English football.

Kutrieb won the National League South title in 2023 with a record-breaking points tally, but left the Fleet early the following year.

It’s been a chance to recharge the batteries for the 44-year-old German, who is ready to get back into management.

“I’ve had a few chats with clubs but I wasn’t ready at the time,” said Kutrieb. “I wanted to make sure I was ready when I take the next opportunity and now I am looking forward to what the next option will be.

“As a manager, you don’t have the time to really reflect much as the games come thick and fast. You can make sure the team is right and players are okay but you don’t really have time to look after yourselves as you go from one game to the next.

“The break was really good for me to reflect on myself, where are my strengths and where can I improve or do better. From that point of view, it makes you stronger when you have a bit of time out. I’m mentally stronger now than I was four months ago.

“One thing you should do is get better every year as a manager but you don’t always have time in your small, little world.

“Now I’ve had time out, I’ve watched so many other games, seen how other people work and reflected on myself. I’ve seen other approaches and, of course, in a perfect scenario, I should be a better manager.

“If you want to be a successful manager, I think you should be able to develop yourself as much as you can.”

Kutrieb arrived at Ebbsfleet in 2020 as an unknown in this country despite an impressive promotion-filled CV in Germany.

His passing football style was easy on the eye and, for the most part, it produced excellent results. There’s no doubt he’ll be a good fit for many teams here and Kutrieb sees his immediate future in England rather than his homeland.

“The four years that I’ve had, 90% of it were amazing times for me and I’m very thankful for that,” he added.

“I’m ready to be in this country and manage here, that was always the question at the start - can you manage in a different country, in a different language with different mentalities and a different culture?

“I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can’t wait to see what is next waiting for me in this country. I think in this country you have a fair chance to be successful and climb up the pyramid. I definitely want to stay here.

“In Germany, especially my home town in Berlin, I’ve rejected offers I’ve had from there as I want to make my next step in this country.

“At this moment in time I wouldn’t close anything off. I’ve had chats with league clubs, I’ve talked with National League and National League South (sides).

“I’m very comfortable in the way we did it full-time at Ebbsfleet where being professional as much as you can helps the manager and players be successful. In general, my aim is still to manage in the Football League, that won’t change.

“The talks I’ve had were interesting but I want it to be the right fit. Ebbsfleet were perfect for me and I had the feeling four years ago that it would be the right club and we had a successful story together.”

Kutrieb was seconds away from promotion in the National League South play-off final in 2022 but saw his team romp to the league title 12 months later.

However, he was axed at the end of January after a poor run of form left the Fleet battling against relegation.

That meant he never got the chance to work to much extent with Bryant Bilongo, Tommy Fogarty or Declan Skura. But those three key loan signings were all made on his watch.

“I’m still proud that we made some good decisions in bringing loan players in which was quite crucial in the end, bringing Bilongo, Fogarty and Skura,” said Kutrieb, reflecting on his Ebbsfleet departure.

“We got the recruitment wrong in the summer but at least we did some good things with the loan market, even starting with Jack Wakely and getting Mustapha Olagunju in.

“Was I surprised (to be sacked)? I don’t know as you always need to have that awareness as a manager that it could happen when the results are not going your way. We were improving compared to the months before. I wasn’t prepared for it as it’s something you don’t want to experience as a manager.

“It was most important that they stayed up in the league. It wouldn’t have been right to get relegated after such an amazing season before so I’m glad they stayed up and as a club they can move on with a new-look squad.

“The manager can bring in his own philosophy from the start of pre-season and I wish the club and everyone involved the best of luck in being successful. With the news about the stadium as well I think good times are coming.

“I will always look at their results as it was my first club in the UK, I was welcomed by so many people in and around the town and the fans were always amazing for me so I’ve got nothing bad to say about the club.

“I watched some of the games, I’ve seen highlights and was always seeing how the squad got on. Some of those players were with me for two or three years so it wouldn’t feel right if I just stepped away and said I wasn’t interested anymore.

“That wasn’t me as I spent so much time with the players that I wanted to see how they were doing. They were good to me, even when I left. It was more than a player-manager relationship, they knew that I was good to them and that I’m a good person.

“I didn’t turn on them when they had a bad game and try to get new players, I was loyal to them and they appreciated that.”