‘I will join Man United on one condition’ – Gareth Southgate makes promise as he responds to Man United links

‘I will join Man United on one condition’ – Gareth Southgate makes promise as he responds to Man United links

Although the Former England coach has been linked to the Manchester United position, Gareth Southgate says he is “certain” he will not return to football management “in the next year.”

Southgate emerged as a goal for the Premier League giants early in the year when it looked as though Erik ten Hag might be sacked.

Southgate declined to comment on the rumors because he was entirely focused on England’s Euro 2024 campaign, but he was reportedly “open” to the possibility of taking over at Old Trafford.

After discussing the possibility of Ten Hag’s replacement with multiple managers, Manchester United gave him a new contract in the summer. However, the team’s dismal start to the current campaign has raised new questions about Ten Hag’s role in the organization.

United have won just two of their opening seven league games to slip to 14th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation zone.

Manchester United’s owners appear ready to give Ten Hag even more time to prove he can bring back the glory days but more underwhelming performances following the international break could force the club to act.

Ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is believed to be a figure of interest at Old Trafford, while it would not be a surprise to see Southgate linked with the job once again.

But Southgate, England’s most successful manager since World Cup-winning boss Sir Alf Ramsey, has ruled out an imminent return to management and says he needs ‘time’ to consider his options going forward.

‘I won’t coach in the next year, for sure,’ Southgate said at the ECA Europe general assembly. ‘I’m certain of that.

‘I need to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come out of a really big role you need to give your body time, you need to give your mind time.’

Southgate stepped down as England manager after six years following the Three Lions’ defeat to Spain in the 2024 European Championship final.

The 53-year-old managed England at four major tournaments, also reaching the final of Euro 2020 while going deep at back-to-back World Cups.

Southgate was named as the ‘obvious choice’ for the Manchester United job by ex-England star Joe Cole.

‘Gareth Southgate is the obvious choice for Manchester United,’ he told Paddy Power.

‘If you look at the ownership group, with Dan Ashworth – he worked with Southgate at the FA and it’s actually reminds me a lot with when Gareth took over at England and having to steady the waters.

‘Erik ten Hag is a top manager, and he’d walk away with his head high and silverware on the table – like he did at Ajax. He’ll get another job and that might suit his style a bit better.’

But Manchester United legend Gary Neville has said the club’s fans would have reservations if Southgate was to arrive in the Old Trafford hot-seat.

‘I said last season that I’ve never seen Gareth as a fit for Manchester United or Manchester United to be a fit for Gareth,’ the ex-United and England right-back said on The Overlap US

I’ve never seen it as something, to be fair, the club would do, I’ve never seen it as something Manchester United would do.

‘The only connection I see is that Dan Ashworth has worked with Gareth and Gareth has done a very good job with England but I’ve never seen that connection before

‘Manchester United fans are a bunch of people who have feeling, who have a spirit, and I don’t think they’re connected to this idea yet.

‘Gareth could do exactly what he’s done with England if he was to come in the next few months or year or whatever it may be and completely change people’s thinking and change the dynamic around the decision.

‘But actually pre-the move, he would come in, not unusually for him because he came into the England job with not a lot of love, but he would be coming into Manchester United with, not necessarily not a lot of love, but coming in with scepticism