England manager Gareth Southgate has said speculation that he is being lined up to succeed Erik ten Hag at Manchester United after Uefa Euro 2024 is “completely disrespectful” to the Dutchman.
United have been heavily linked with Southgate this week, with reports claiming Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group, which has taken over football operations at the club, plan to sack Ten Hag and make Southgate their preferred target at the end of the season.
“I’m the England manager – I’ve got one job, basically, which is to try to deliver a European championship,” Southgate said of his task in Germany this summer, speaking before Brazil visit Wembley Stadium for a friendly on Saturday and Belgium follow suit on Tuesday.
“Manchester United have a manager. It’s always completely disrespectful when there’s any speculation about a manager who’s in place.”
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The 53-year-old added that his position as president of the League Managers Association, which represents the interests of his counterparts throughout the English game, meant he did not “have any time” for rumours about coaches’ jobs while they are in post.
Southgate has caught the eye of clubs since taking charge of England in 2016, re-establishing the Three Lions as a force at tournaments by guiding them to the semi-finals of the 2018 Fifa World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.
A three-year spell at Middlesbrough in his first managerial role – Southgate’s only experience of the Premier League so far in his coaching career – was less convincing, culminating in his dismissal months after overseeing top-flight relegation.
“It’s completely disrespectful” 🗣️
Gareth Southgate comments on the speculation linking him to the Manchester United managerial position ❌PIC.TWITTER.COM/296EVYMKC2
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) MARCH 22, 2024
Southgate to United rumours rage
The former Boro, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace centre-back has become as respected for his approach off the pitch as he has for his revival of the national team he once represented, and he has previously worked with Dan Ashworth, who is expected to take up a senior position at United, at the FA.
There was talk of Southgate leaving after England exited the 2022 World Cup in the quarter-finals at the hands of France, but their comfortable qualification for Euro 2024 has ensured he will have a chance to go one step further than he did at the most recent edition.
Whether Ten Hag will be at Old Trafford by the time those finals start in June could depend on how United end a largely underwhelming season.
With 10 league games remaining, the 20-time champions have a six-point gap to recover on Tottenham, who occupy the fifth position which is likely to mean Champions League football in 2024/25.
Ten Hag enjoyed the high point so far of an uneven campaign on Sunday, when United reached the FA Cup semi-finals with an extra-time win at home to a Liverpool side who are 17 points above them in the table.
