Gareth Southgate, The England Manager, Reacts To Rumors Regarding The Manchester United Managerial Position.
Gareth Southgate, The England Manager, Reacts To Rumors Regarding The Manchester United Managerial Position.
England manager Gareth Southgate has dismissed speculation linking him with a summer move to Manchester United. Southgate is currently focused on preparing to lead the Three Lions at Euro 2024, which kicks off in Germany in mid-June.
However, with his contract set to expire at the end of 2024, it’s natural that there’s talk of interest in a manager who has guided England to a World Cup semi-final and the Euro 2020 final.
While previously Southgate had only been linked with a return to domestic football in general terms, with the possibility of taking over a Premier League club, recent reports have suggested that Manchester United are admirers of Southgate. Discussions with his representatives regarding a potential switch to Old Trafford after the European Championship have reportedly been initiated.
With Manchester United facing a disappointing end to their Premier League campaign and Erik ten Hag’s team at risk of missing out on European qualification, rumors linking Gareth Southgate to the club have intensified. Additionally, widespread speculation suggests that ten Hag is likely to be relieved of his managerial duties, regardless of the outcome of the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Regarding Southgate’s response to the speculation, when asked about the topic in an interview with BBC Sport, he remained focused and refrained from engaging in speculation. Southgate stated, “There will always be speculation about managers, because if you lose a couple of games, you’re in trouble – you win a couple of games and it is a different agenda. But for me, it [Euro 2024] is a brilliant opportunity. We’re looking forward to the tournament. My focus is on how do we go a step further than we went in the last Euros [when they were beaten on penalties in the final by Italy].”
Regarding his own situation, Southgate emphasized that it’s not an issue for him. He stated, “Well, for me, it’s not an issue and never has been. I have to deliver a successful tournament for England and there’s enough work involved in that. I think everybody would expect that’s where my focus should be.”
Is it possible for Southgate to reach an agreement with Manchester United?
In theory, Southgate appears to be an ideal candidate to succeed Ten Hag and is reportedly high on the shortlist of minority United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. However, it seems that the timing may not be optimal for either party, as United needs to proceed with plans for a significant rebuild once the season concludes.
Considering Southgate’s desire to focus on England and the potential difficulty of leaving that role until mid-July, it’s understandable that he is maintaining a firm stance.
Having been in charge of the national team since September 2016, Southgate may also prefer to take a break before embarking on the challenge of rebuilding one of the world’s largest clubs.
