If Ruben Amorim is sacked, who will succeed him as Manchester United gaffer? While the guessing game is heating up among fans of the club, a report now claims that former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate has expressed willingness to take up the job with United's higher-ups.
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Gareth Southgate was offered the United job a year ago but decided to turn it down. The 55-year-old last coached a Premier League side in 2009 when he was at the helm of Middlesbrough FC. It was not a happy ending as Boro ended up getting relegated.
Ruben Amorim is under pressure as Manchester United's start to the 2025-26 Premier League season is their worst in 33 years. After their first four Premier League matches, United had secured just four points (one win, one draw, two losses), placing them 14th in the table. This is their lowest points tally at this stage since the English top-tier was rechristened as the Premier League in 1992-93. Portuguese Amorim had inherited the team midway through the previous season after Erik ten Hag was sacked following a rollercoaster campaign.
Another report had claimed that Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had personally spoken with Ruben Amorim and assured him that he was not going to be sacked immediately. However, he was reminded that things cannot remain the way they are permanently. Amorim is likely to get another three games, and if the Red Devils are still unable to improve their performance, the former Sporting manager will be shown the door, reports claimed.
Why Southgate?
Gareth Southgate is not among the finest football brains but is known for extraordinary man-management skills. Many pundits and fans believe that such a man is a better fit for the job at Old Trafford than a brilliant tactician. Somebody like Southgate who can get the basics right with the existing squad sans asking for another spending spree is the best choice for United at least until the current contracts of their highly-paid underperformers run out. Then, a proper squad overhaul under a master tactician can be thought about, they say.
Southgate was the manager of the England men’s national team from 2016 until Euro 2024. Despite being a darling of the English media, Southgate failed to win a major trophy with the Three Lions. His squad selections, substitutions, and even style of play lacked the bite and aggression that could have taken the immensely talented England to great heights. He resigned after Spain humbled England 2-1 in the summit clash of Euro 2024.